AFCON Exodus: Which Man Utd Stars Will Miss Crucial Fixtures While Chasing Continental Glory?

Ruben Amorim is anticipating another challenging period in Manchester as the Africa Cup of Nations commences in December.

The Portuguese manager is nearing his first anniversary leading the Red Devils, having supervised the club's poorest campaign since the Premier League began in 2024–25.

Nevertheless, there have been encouraging signs of improvement at the beginning of the new season, with Matthijs de Ligt's crucial late header against Tottenham Hotspur maintaining their four-match unbeaten streak. A lighter fixture schedule has benefited them thus far, but matches will come rapidly for Amorim's squad as the year draws to a close.

This time around, numerous Premier League coaches will need to navigate the holiday period without their African players. Amorim may only lose a few players to Morocco during the Christmas period, but those expected to participate have established themselves as key contributors for the Manchester United manager.

Here are the Red Devils who will be absent for AFCON.

Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)

Following a record-low goal tally in the Premier League last season, Man Utd was compelled to revitalize their attacking options during the summer.

Prior to securing Benjamin Šeško to replace Rasmus Højlund, the club targeted established performers in English football who had delivered exceptional individual seasons in 2024–25.

Bryan Mbeumo joined alongside Matheus Cunha, and the Cameroonian has become a regular fixture on the right flank of Amorim's attacking trio. His October performances earned him Premier League Player of the Month recognition, and the forward's excellent form persisted with a well-taken header against Spurs on Saturday.

Mbeumo tops United's goal-scoring list with six strikes, making Amorim's concerns about the upcoming tournament understandable. The ex-Brentford player represents a Cameroon team not favored to add to their five AFCON victories in Morocco.

Although Cameroon should advance to the elimination rounds, a lengthy tournament run seems unlikely. Therefore, the winger could return early in the new year, with Premier League matches scheduled against rivals Leeds United and Burnley on January 4 and 7, respectively. The Manchester Derby on January 18 is also approaching.

Regrettably for Amorim, Mbeumo's ideal substitute will also be at the tournament. Consequently, Mason Mount will probably see increased playing time, but United will urgently need Cunha and Šeško to remain healthy.

Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)

United's right flank will appear significantly less threatening during the holiday fixtures.

Amad emerged as one of the few positives for the Red Devils last season, and he has admirably adapted to the wing-back role in Amorim's system, despite his defensive contributions often requiring improvement.

He featured in the front three on Saturday, however, and provided the assist for Mbeumo's opening goal in north London. The previous week against Nottingham Forest, Amad netted his first goal of the campaign and came close to securing victory for the Red Devils late on, only denied by an excellent Murillo clearance.

The 23-year-old has been inconsistently selected for the Ivory Coast squad since his 2021 debut, but Amad did find the net for his nation during the October international window. His current form suggests he's likely to feature in Emerse Faé's squad, and the defending champions are expected to mount a strong title defense in North Africa.

Consequently, Amorim may be without Amad for approximately one month. Similar to Mbeumo, a possible replacement is also scheduled to participate in the tournament. Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu will likely form United's wing-back partnership until Amad's return.

Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)

The Moroccan defender has been a reliable performer since joining Man Utd from Bayern Munich in 2024. Mazraoui may not be a standout player, but he's a trustworthy individual defender who provides technical stability in possession.

However, Amorim's tactical changes have resulted in a diminished role for him this season. He has appeared in only five matches and started three contests.

Mazraoui has earned 33 caps for his country since debuting in 2018, and was part of Walid Regragui's groundbreaking Morocco team that reached the World Cup semifinals in 2022. Although he has added only two appearances in 2025, it would be surprising if Regragui excluded him from the AFCON squad next month.

If selected, the adaptable defender will be unavailable for the entire tournament duration. The host nation are favorites to claim AFCON for only the second time, having been eliminated in the round of 16 two years prior. A manageable group stage virtually ensures their advancement to the knockout phase.

Man Utd's Fixtures During AFCON