International Football

Which FPL players are away at AFCON and how many Gameweeks will they miss?

The delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations begins in January and, after much speculation, we finally know which Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players will be representing their countries in Cameroon and how many Gameweeks they will miss as a minimum.

WHEN WILL PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS LEAVE FOR AFCON?

Previously there had been some concern about FPL assets leaving as early as Gameweek 19 or 20 to attend pre-competition training camps but it has now been confirmed that players from the English top flight will be allowed to represent their clubs in the initial round of Gameweek 21 matches (i.e. not the ‘doubles’) before departing for AFCON.

WHEN DOES AFCON 2021 TAKE PLACE?

The tournament proper runs from Sunday 9 January to Sunday 6 February and will be staged in Cameroon.

With 16 nations progressing from the 24-team group stage, the chances of getting some of the big FPL names back early aren’t great; the likes of Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Algeria are among the tournament favourites and will expect to go deep into the knockout rounds.

StageDates
Group stageJan 9-20
Round of 16Jan 23-26
Quarter-finalsJan 29-30
Semi-finalsFeb 2-3
Third place play-off/FinalFeb 6

HOW MANY GAMEWEEKS WILL FPL PLAYERS MISS DUE TO THEIR INVOLEMENT AT AFCON?

Thanks to a combination of the FA Cup and a wider January international break, only two Gameweeks are affected while AFCON is on: Gameweeks 22 and 23.

Anyone involved in the final or third-place play-off on Sunday 6 February could be doubtful for Gameweek 24, however, which takes place on February 8-10.

GameweekDates
Gameweek 20Dec 28-30
Gameweek 21 (PL players leave after the initial New Year round of games and before the ‘doubles’)Jan 1-12
Gameweek 22Jan 14-16
Gameweek 23Jan 21-23
Gameweek 24 (PL players arrive back at clubs before this point)Feb 8-10

PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS AND TEAMS AFFECTED BY AFCON 2021

Up to 30 players from 16 clubs could be representing their respective nations at AFCON in January.

Arsenal, Leicester City and Watford look set to be the worst hit, with four players on international duty.

Leeds United, Newcastle United, Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur are the four teams that won’t be affected by the tournament in Cameroon.

There are some big names in the below list, the most notable of which is Mohamed Salah (£12.8m).

The 64%-owned leading points-scorer in FPL is one of three Liverpool players who are set to be missing in January and possibly the beginning of February, with Sadio Mane (£11.8m) and Naby Keita (£5.0m) poised to turn out for Senegal and Guinea respectively.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£9.6m), Maxwel Cornet (£5.9m), Edouard Mendy (£6.2m), Riyad Mahrez (£8.7m), and Said Benrahma (£5.9m) are also stand-out names in the table we’ve put together below:


ClubPlayers at AFCON 2021
ArsenalThomas Partey (Ghana)
Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast)
Aston VillaMahmoud Trezeguet (Egypt)
Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
BrentfordFrank Onyeka (Nigeria)
BrightonYves Bissouma (Mali)
BurnleyMaxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast)
ChelseaEdouard Mendy (Senegal)
Crystal PalaceCheikhou Kouyate (Senegal)
Jordan Ayew (Ghana)
Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)
EvertonAlex Iwobi (Nigeria)
LeicesterDaniel Amartey (Ghana)
Nampalys Mendy (Senegal)
Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria)
LiverpoolMohamed Salah (Egypt)
Naby Keita (Guinea)
Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Manchester CityRiyad Mahrez (Algeria)
Manchester UnitedEric Bailly (Ivory Coast)
SouthamptonMoussa Djenepo (Mali)
WatfordWilliam Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
Adam Masina (Morocco)
Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
Imran Louza (Morocco)
West HamSaid Benrahma (Algeria)
WolvesRomain Saiss (Morocco)

*Still being assessed by medical teams to see if he is fit enough to compete


493 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sakib.jafar
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Martinelli to Odegaard?

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      For Sell ?

      1. Sakib.jafar
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah to sell

    2. 420king
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No.

  2. Sakib.jafar
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Ramsdale
    Rudiger Cancelo Dalot TAA
    Martinelli Bernardo Son Jota
    Lacazette Kane

    Any transfers or save? Have 0.2 available

    1. 420king
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Arsenal have a blank this GW. What's your bench?

      1. Sakib.jafar
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Allan Williams Watkins

        1. 420king
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I'd take a hit to get two more starters.

  3. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Time to sell CHE assets?

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      getting that way

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Don't have that luxury, stuck with James

  4. WVA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Working towards a nice strong squad, how does it look?

    Ramsdale Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo James Reguilon Dalot
    Son Jota Maddison Bowen Gray
    Ronaldo Antonio Broja

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, I like it. Gray will have his moment again with those fixtures.
      It'll just be a case of picking the right 11 each week. Easy as that.

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Some will miss out through postponements each week which will help

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Like it, strong team with A good bench cover

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Which will be valuable as the postponments are likely the upcoming weeks

      2. WVA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Thank you, not quite there yet but only a couple of players off.

        1. Yes Ndidi
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Are you considering BB22?
          I'm almost at the same point you are - just need to turn Wilson, Bilva and Brownhill into Bowen, Maddison and Antonio.

    3. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Strong team
      WC ?

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        No just my planned transfers

  5. Sakib.jafar
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    A) Dennis
    B) Broja
    C) Wilson
    D) King

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      In what context? Sub? Starter? Short term? Long term?
      A will probably be off the AFCON if Nigeria have any sense
      B Isn't exactly nailed
      C is nailed and on pens, with OK fixtures, but plays for possibly the worst team in the league, who will be buying in January
      D may well suffer due to A

      I went B, purely down to money.

      1. Sakib.jafar
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks only for short term.

        1. Yes Ndidi
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Short term Broja should be starting most weeks.

  6. Sakib.jafar
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Martinelli to Lucas Moura?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Not for me

  7. Sakib.jafar
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Laca to Broja
    Martinelli to Mahrez

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Should probably read the article about players going to AFCON mate!

  8. Sakib.jafar
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Who do I replace Martinelli and Laca with?

    Have 14m available

  9. Ray85
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Ramsdale and Saka for DDG and Bowen for -4 to get 11 considering Arsenal have City on Saturday and I also have Martinelli?

  10. Sakib.jafar
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Martinelli to Gray
    Laca to Antonio

    Yes or no

  11. 420king
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    New article guys.

  12. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Rank these players in order of priority of selling?

    A. ESR
    B. BSilva
    C. Foden
    D. Mount

    1. kusasi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      BADC

      1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        ACBD