The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a major football tournament that features top African players competing for their national teams. Each edition is characterized not only by the performance of participating athletes but also by the absence of notable players. These absences are due to factors such as injury, retirement, selection decisions, or national teams failing to qualify. The 2024 tournament in Morocco is no exception, with several high-profile players missing from the competition.

This report presents an objective overview of the AFCON Absentee XI,a lineup of prominent players not participating in the tournament,and examines the reasons for their absence and the potential impact on their respective teams.

Goalkeeper: André Onana (Cameroon/Trabzonspor)

André Onana, previously regarded as one of Africa’s leading goalkeepers, was excluded from Cameroon’s final squad. Contributing factors include a decline in club performance at Manchester United and internal disputes between the Cameroonian Football Federation and the Sports Ministry. Onana’s replacement is Fabrice Ondoa.

Right Back: Wilfried Singo (Ivory Coast/Galatasaray)

Wilfried Singo, a previous AFCON winner, is unavailable due to a muscle tear sustained in November 2023. His absence reduces defensive options for Ivory Coast, which may affect their title defense.

Centre Back: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria/PAOK)

William Troost-Ekong retired from international football prior to the tournament. As the previous AFCON Player of the Tournament, his departure creates a gap in Nigeria’s defensive lineup.

Centre Back: Mohammed Salisu (Ghana/AS Monaco)

Mohammed Salisu is not participating because Ghana did not qualify for AFCON 2024. Salisu has been a consistent performer at AS Monaco, and his absence is a direct result of the team’s failure to qualify.

Left Back: André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon/Napoli)

André-Frank Zambo Anguissa is unavailable due to a muscular injury sustained during international duty. His absence removes an experienced midfield option for Cameroon.

Central Midfield: Cheick Doucouré (Mali/Crystal Palace)

Cheick Doucouré has been sidelined with a knee injury since January 2024. Crystal Palace has confirmed he will not return before the end of the tournament, impacting Mali’s midfield depth.

Central Midfield: Hakim Ziyech (Morocco/Wydad Casablanca)

Hakim Ziyech has not played since May 2023 and was unable to regain fitness in time for AFCON 2024. His absence removes a creative playmaking option for Morocco.

Right Wing: Antoine Semenyo (Ghana/Bournemouth)

Antoine Semenyo is not participating due to Ghana’s failure to qualify. Despite recent goal-scoring challenges, he remains a key player for both club and country.

Attacking Midfield: Mohammed Kudus (Ghana/West Ham United)

Mohammed Kudus is also absent as a result of Ghana’s non-qualification. He has contributed seven goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season, and his absence reduces the tournament’s attacking talent pool.

Left Wing: Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund)

Serhou Guirassy is unavailable due to injury and Guinea’s failure to qualify. He has demonstrated strong goal-scoring form in the Bundesliga.

Striker: Yoane Wissa (DR Congo/Newcastle United)

Yoane Wissa is not included in DR Congo’s squad due to injury and illness. The team has prioritized his recovery for upcoming World Cup playoffs.

Additional Notable Absentees

Other players missing from AFCON 2024 include Ola Aina (Nigeria/Fulham), Logan Costa (Cape Verde/Villarreal), Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe/Wolves), Amine Gouiri (Algeria/Marseille), Yankuba Minteh (Gambia/Brighton), Nicolas Pépé (Ivory Coast/Villarreal), Amine Adli (Morocco/Bournemouth), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Nottingham Forest), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana/Atalanta), Evan Guessand (Ivory Coast/Aston Villa), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Cameroon/New York Red Bulls), Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon/Neftci), Victor Boniface (Nigeria/Werder Bremen), and Tolu Arokodare (Nigeria/Wolves). Reasons for absence include injury, non-selection, and team non-qualification.

In summary, the absence of these players is attributable to a combination of injuries, retirements, selection decisions, and national team performance in qualification. These factors are consistent with historical trends in major international tournaments and are expected to influence team strategies and overall tournament quality.