AFCON 2025: The players Bundesliga clubs will miss
Leverkusen's Ibrahim Maza, Frankfurt's Ellyes Skhiri, and Leipzig's Yan Diomande are just a few of the Bundesliga players at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Nicolas Jackson – Bayern Munich
His first six months in Munich have not been outstanding. The Chelsea loanee mostly sat on the bench and only came on as a substitute for striker Harry Kane. However, the 24-year-old is a regular in the Senegal national team and plays alongside former Bayern player Sadio Mane. Jackson already played in the AFCON in 2024, but Senegal were knocked out in the round of 16.
Ramy Bensebaini – Borussia Dortmund
With 76 international caps and more than 275 appearances in France's Ligue 1, the Bundesliga for Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund, and in European competition, the 30-year-old is one of the most experienced players for Algeria, who were eliminated in the group stage of the last edition of the tournament in January 2024.
Ibrahim Maza – Bayer Leverkusen
Ibrahim Maza (left) is an attacking midfielder who has recently impressed in Leverkusen with his play further back as a defensive or central midfielder. In November, the 20-year-old Berlin native was named Algeria's young player of the year.
Christian Kofane, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Edmond Tapsoba – Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen are in fact being hit hard, with Christian Kofane (19, Cameroon), Eliesse Ben Seghir, (20, Morocco) and Edmond Tapsoba (26, Burkina Faso) also named to AFCON squads. Of the three, Tapsoba is the most experienced internationally, having made 57 appearances for his country. Kofane will be hoping to make his international debut during AFCON.
Bilal El Khannouss – Stuttgart
Bilala El Khannouss represented his native Belgium at youth level before switching allegiance to Morocco as a U20 player. The attacking midfielder was part of the Moroccan team that was knocked out of the round-of-16 by South Africa at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. This time, playing at home, he's aiming for the title.
Samuel Essende – Augsburg
Samuel Essende, on the other hand, has only a minimal chance of lifting the trophy on January 18. The Democratic Republic of Congo are not among the favorites. However, reaching the knockout stage is still a possibility. Essende and his teammates face Senegal, Benin and Botswana in the group stage.
Mohamed Amoura – Wolfsburg
The 25-year-old is Wolfsburg's top scorer with six goals in 14 Bundesliga matches. The pacey striker is particularly effective on the counter-attack. Amoura is a regular starter for Algeria and a danger to opponents.
Fares Chaibi – Eintracht Frankfurt
Fares Chaibi is also in the Algerian squad. The midfielder was born in France and made his debut for the "Desert Foxes" in 2023. He featured regularly in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but mostly came off the bench. At Frankfurt, however, the 23-year-old is a regular starter and, with six assists, is Eintracht's top playmaker this season
Yan Diomande – RB Leipzig
With seven goals and four assists in 15 competitive matches, the striker has made a huge impact at RB Leipzig. His international career for AFCON titleholders Ivory Coast, however, is still young with just four appearances. At the Africa Cup of Nations, the 19-year-old will play alongside former Bundesliga player Sebastien Haller and another current Bundesliga player...
Bazoumana Toure – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
...who has impressed with strong performances in recent weeks. Toure (left), also just 19 years old, made his international debut for Ivory Coast in October. However, the striker will likely be coming off the bench at AFCON.
Amadou Haidara – RB Leipzig
Although the midfielder has yet to make an appearance for RB Leipzig this season, the Malian national coach has picked him for the Africa Cup of Nations. This will be the 27-year-old's third AFCON following 2019 and 2022. He has made 46 appearances for his country.
Elias Saad – Augsburg
The Hamburg native represented Germany in futsal before turning pro in football and making his international debut for Tunisia in 2024. The 25-year-old attacking player recently lost his starting position in the Bundesliga but remains a regular on the left wing for the national team.
Ismael Gharbi – Augsburg
Saad's rival in the same position for both Augsburg and Tunisia is Ismael Gharbi. However, the 21-year-old tends not to start, usually coming on as a sub. Gharbi was born in Paris to a Spanish mother and a Tunisian father. He played for France's under-18 team, then for Spain up to the under-20 level, and made his debut for Tunisia's senior national team in 2025.
Ellyes Skhiri – Eintracht Frankfurt
Although he also hails from France and has a French mother, the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder has always represented his father's country, Tunisia, with whom he took part in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be the 30-year-old's fourth continental championship. With 73 appearances, he is one of Tunisia's most experienced players.