The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Sunday, December 21, in Morocco.
This edition is historic, as it marks the first time the tournament is being held during the Christmas and New Year period.
Several Stars fans elite leagues have already linked up with their respective national teams for the tournament.
ALSO READ: Five AFCON 2025 powerhouses set to dominate Africa’s grand football showpiece in Morocco
Semenyo, Onana lead contingent of stars set to miss AFCON 2025
Ghana’s shocking absence leaves nations’ stars in the dark
In this piece, Sportpesa Blog takes a look at players who will miss the biennial tournament.
Antoine Semenyo is undoubtedly one of the biggest names missing from AFCON 2025, and his absence is purely due to Ghana’s shock failure to qualify.
For the first time in 20 years, the Black Stars,four-time continental champions, failed to make it to the tournament. They finished bottom of their qualifying group without a single win.
Semenyo has been in fine form netting eight goals already for Bournemouth in the premier league.
He will be joined by fellow countrymen Mohammed Kudus, and Thomas Partey in watching from home.
Cameroonian stars Onana and Vincent Aboubakar left out
The absence of André Onana from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is arguably the tournament’s most significant controversy, marking the culmination of a long and turbulent relationship with the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).
While Onana remains one of Africa’s most high-profile goalkeepers, his omission from the final squad in Morocco is the result of a deep-seated power struggle between federation president Samuel Eto’o and the national team’s technical staff.
ALSO READ: AFCON 2025 coaches: The tactical minds behind Africa’s finest
After a series of coaching changes and public disputes over team discipline, the decision was ultimately made to move forward without him.
Onana will be joined by compatriot Vincent Aboubakar who was surprisingly left out of the squad.
Ivory Coast’s bold selection leaves in-form experience at home
Despite being in excellent form for Villarreal in La Liga, where he has been a consistent starter and key playmaker this season, coach Emerse Faé made the bold choice to leave former Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe at home.
Faé stated that if the decision were based strictly on on-field performance, Pépé would be in the squad, but noted that off-the-field factors ultimately led to his omission.
Pepe will miss the tournament alongside national team mate Sebastian Haller who suffered a hamstring injury just days ago while playing in the Dutch league.
Other notable misses from the 2025 Afcon include ; Houssem Aouar (Algeria),Yoane Wissa (DR Congo),Ola Aina (Nigeria) and Hakim Ziyech (Morocco).
