The competition runs from December 21st to January 18th, 2026, with players potentially missing up to six Premier League games depending on how far their nation goes.
FIFA recently announced that clubs could keep hold of players up to December 15th before letting them jet off to the tournament.
Several Premier League clubs are set to lose players to AFCON over the winter - here, Flashscore have compiled a list of all the stars set to leave on international duty.
Arsenal - zero players
The Gunners have no players representing African nations in their first-team squad.
Aston Villa - one player
Winger Evann Guessand is a regular in the Ivory Coast squad and is expected to join up with the current AFCON holders.
Bournemouth - one player
Summer signing Amine Adli should be called up for hosts Morocco - but the Cherries will retain star player Antoine Semenyo after Ghana failed to qualify.
Brentford - two players
Both Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) and Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) could be called up for their respective countries. Onyeka has been included in the Super Eagles' preliminary squad.
Brighton - one player
Carlos Baleba has struggled this season but remains a part of Cameroon's squad for AFCON 2025/26, while Yankuba Minteh will remain with the Seagulls after Gambia failed to qualify.
Chelsea - zero players
Chelsea have no players representing African nations in their first-team squad.
Crystal Palace - four players
The Eagles have several first-team players who could have headed to Morocco, although a few are injury concerns ahead of the tournament.
Chadi Riad (Morocco) and Chieck Doucoure (Mali) are yet to feature for the club this season, while Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) went off injured in their December loss to Manchester United.
Christantus Uche is in Nigeria's preliminary squad.
Everton - three players
Both Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye are regulars for Senegal and expected to join up with the squad before the start of the tournament.
Youngster Adam Aznou could be called up for the hosts, Morocco.
Fulham - three players
Nigerian trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze have all been selected in Nigeria's preliminary side.
Leeds - zero players
Leeds have no players representing African nations in their first-team squad.
Liverpool - one player
Star forward Mohamed Salah has, as expected, been called up for Egypt.
Manchester City - one player
Likewise, Omar Marmoush has also been confirmed to be part of Egypt's squad.
Manchester United - three players
Three important players are set to head off to AFCON, with Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) all likely call-ups.
Newcastle - zero players
Yoane Wissa would normally be part of DR Congo's team, but was not selected due to his current injury struggles.
Nottingham Forest - four players
Taiwo Awoniyi was named in Nigeria's provisional squad, as was Ola Aina, although the defender is expected to be out until January with a hamstring injury.
Both Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly could be called up for the Ivory Coast.
Sunderland - seven players
Sunderland will be the club most affected by AFCON, with seven first-team players likely to depart.
Noah Sadiki and Arthur Masuaku have been added to DR Congo's squad, while Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso) and Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast) are all likely call-ups.
Club record signing Habib Diarra is also set to join up with Senegal if he can overcome a groin injury that has kept him out of action since September.
Tottenham Hotspur - two players
Pape Matar Sarr will likely be selected by Senegal, while it remains to be seen if out-of-favour midfielder Yves Bissouma will join up with Mali.
Winger Mohammed Kudus represents Ghana, who didn't qualify for the tournament.
West Ham - two players
The Hammers are set to miss defensive pairing Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf. The former has been called up for DR Congo, while the latter will likely be selected for Senegal.
Wolves - four players
Four players are set to depart for AFCON with the club sitting at the bottom of the Premier League.
Both Marshall Munetsi and Tawanda Chirewa could join up with Zimbabwe, Emmanuel Agbadou is a regular for the Ivory Coast and Tolu Arokodare is in Nigeria's preliminary squad.
Jackson Tchatchoua was not picked by Cameroon for AFCON 2026.
