From Onana to Kudus: African stars missing at AFCON

The 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations - Africa’s grandest sports event - kicks off on Sunday when hosts Morocco play Comoros.

The tournament runs from December 21 until January 18.

But not all Africa’s biggest names in football will be present for the tournament either due to their country's failure to qualify, unexpected omissions from nationals teams, injuries or lack of form.

Andre Onana – Cameroon 

One of the shock omissions from the Africa Cup of Nations is Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Onana, on loan at Trabzonspor from Manchester United, was primed to be one of the star players in the Indomitable Lions squad before his last minute exclusion.

Reports blamed his fall from grace to an internal feud within the local football federation, FECAFOOT, and a dramatic loss of form while playing for the English Premier League side.

He was axed after one of the country’s football legends, Samuel Eto’o, won reelection as the country's football federation president and immediately changed the national coach.

Cameroon open their Group F campaign at the Cup of Nations finals against Gabon. 

Vincent Aboubakar – Cameroon

Cameroon failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. It led to multiple changes in the squad that saw several experienced players dropped for the Afcon tournament, including striker Vincent Aboubakar, who had been a mainstay of the team for the last 15 years.

Aboubakar was the eight-goal leading scorer in the 2022 AFCON as hosts Cameroon finished third behind Senegal and Egypt.

It was an outstanding performance in the modern era of the premier African football tournament, finishing just one goal shy of matching the 1974 record of Congolese Ndaye Mulamba.

"We wanted to do things differently. They are good players, but we set our sights on others to create a different mindset," said new Cameroon coach David Pagou, referring to Aboubakar and goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Antoine Semenyo – Ghana 

Ghana failed to reach the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004. The four-time African champions have played in 24 editions of the tournament.

The ignominious failure meant Antoine Semenyo, the highest scoring African in the English Premier League this season, will not be travelling to Morocco.

Mohammed Kudus – Ghana

Ghanaian Mohammed Kudus was one of Tottenham Hotspur's big signings in the offseason — joining from West Ham — in a deal the British media said was worth $75 million.

He has also been affected by his country’s failure to qualify for the Cup of Nations.

Kudus scored against Comoros to make Ghana became the fifth African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup where fans hope he will replicate his explosive form in the Premier League.

William Troost-Ekong – Nigeria

Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from international football early this month, just 19 days before the Super Eagles launch their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Coach Eric Chelle had included the defender in his preliminary 54-man squad for the AFCON, which kicks off on December 21.

The Saudi Arabia-based centre-back was named player of the tournament at the previous edition in the Ivory Coast

In a social media post, the 32-year-old defender capped 83 times said playing for Nigeria was the greatest privilege of his life.

"The journey may end here, but my support never will," he wrote as his 10-year career with the Super Eagles ends.

 Yoane Wissa – DR Congo

Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa will miss the Africa Cup of Nations after he was left out of Congo's squad.

Wissa, who joined Newcastle for a reported $75 million on the final day of the summer transfer window, sustained an injury in a World Cup qualifier against Senegal in September.

The 29-year-old Wissa returned to training at Newcastle but it came too late for his inclusion in Congo's squad for the Africa Cup.

Until his return to action for Newcastle last week, Wissa has played only two games all season and they were both for Congo in World Cup qualifiers in early September.

Hakim Ziyech – Morocco

Morocco are among the favourites to win the Cup of Nations tournament and their ambitions rest on two pillars: a thriving youth system and a squad stacked with international stars.

Forward Hakim Ziyech was among veterans who made way for rising talents.

Morocco’s youth programme has delivered unprecedented success. Coach Mohamed Wahbi guided his team to an historic FIFA Under-20 World Cup triumph in October, when they beat Argentina 2-0 in the final to become the first Arab nation to lift the trophy.

Ziyech played a key role in leading Morocco to the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.

Victor Boniface – Nigeria

The Nigeria Super Eagles are blessed with so much forward talent that coach Eric Chelle has chosen nine. Victor Boniface was not among them.

Boniface joined Werder Bremen on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen but has failed to register an impressive form.

Nigeria have won the AFCON three times, most recently when they edged Burkina Faso 1-0 in the 2013 final in Johannesburg. Last year, they were runners-up to hosts Ivory Coast. They are in Group C with Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Nicolas Pépé – Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire will be attempting to become the first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holders to defend the title since Egypt did so 15 years ago.

Coach Emerse Fae has defended several contentious squad including the exclusion of Villarreal forward Nicolas Pepe – which attracted media criticism.

"If we were to consider only the sporting aspect, he (Pepe) would be with us," said coach Fae.

"To make a list you have to take into account many factors, both on and off the field. All these factors have led to Nico not being on the list."

Fae did not reveal what factors led to Pepe being omitted despite good form in La Liga, where he won a player of the month award this season.