The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations could have a major impact on the Premier League at the start of 2024 as a host of star names join up with their national sides.
The prospect of a mid-season international tournament is never popular for club teams, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup forcing a historic pause to the European club calendar due to the finals being staged in Qatar's winter in November and December last year.
However, the schedule of AFCON places the competition in January in the majority of years in which it has taken place, with Europe's domestic football impacted as a result.
The 2023 version (played in 2024) will run for just over a month and supporters of Premier League teams will be hoping for an early return for their star names.
One of those is Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was named in the Cameroon squad for the finals. His club teammate, Sofyan Amrabat, will represent Morocco at AFCON.
The blow of losing Onana for a prolonged period was softened after United and Cameroon agreed to let him stay with his club a little longer before journeying to the Ivory Coast for the tournament. He is also now set to return a little sooner than expected
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When is Andre Onana back from AFCON?
Onana was named in the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, held in the Ivory Coast. His side qualified for the knockout stages after finishing runners-up in Group C.
They faced Nigeria in the Round of 16 on January 27, losing 2-0 to the Super Eagles. Onana did not play in the match, having lost his place in the side to Fabrice Ondoa.
Onana will now head home to Manchester, although he will not be available for United's FA Cup match away to Newport County on January 28.
When is the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations?
The Africa Cup of Nations started on January 13, 2024, with the opening match between tournament hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau. The tournament runs all the way to the final on February 11, 2024.
The AFCON includes six groups of four teams (A-F) with the top two automatically qualifying for the Round of 16 stage.
Those 12 teams will be joined by the four best-performing third-placed nations from the six groups, with criteria based on head-to-head results between teams and secondly head-to-head goal difference.
How many Man United games will Andre Onana miss?
Onana was included in the final Cameroon squad for the tournament after being recalled by head coach Rigobert Song.
The goalkeeper controversially announced his international retirement during the 2022 World Cup following a fallout with Song over tactics in Qatar, but the pair have since put aside their differences, at least enough so Onana could play at this tournament.
Cameroon qualified as runners-up in Group C, although Onana has experienced an inauspicious tournament having been dropped after the 3-1 defeat to Senegal in Cameroon's second game. He was not involved in the 2-0 Round of 16 loss to Nigeria.
| Match/Result | Date |
| Cameroon 1-1 Guinea | January 15 |
| Senegal 3-1 Cameroon | January 19 |
| Gambia 2-3 Cameroon | January 23 |
| Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon | January 27 |
The Premier League takes a two-week hybrid break from January 15 to 28, and United will not return to league action until February 1, but they face an FA Cup Fourth Round game at Newport County on January 28. Onana will miss that match.
However, with Cameroon having been eliminated, the goalkeeper will likely be available for United's next Premier League game away to Wolves on February 1.
| Man United fixture | Competition | Date | Onana status |
| Newport County vs. Man United | FA Cup | January 28 | Unavailable, Cameroon face Nigeria in round of 16 |
| Wolves vs. Man United | Premier League | February 1 | Available |
| Man United vs. West Ham | Premier League | February 4 | Available |
| Aston Villa vs. Man United | Premier League | February 11 | Available |
Who will replace Andre Onana for Man United during AFCON?
United will be looking to reduce the impact of losing Onana regardless of the length of his absence for AFCON.
Despite his mixed start to life at United, the former Inter Milan keeper has been ever present, completing every game across all competitions since the start of 2023/24.
The most likely candidate to step in as cover is Turkey international Altay Bayindir who is still waiting for his United debut since joining from Fenerbahce in September.
Bayindir will be an experienced alternative for manager Erik ten Hag and he is expected to get the nod over Tom Heaton and Radek Vitek.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations schedule, dates
Hosts Ivory Coast kicked off the opening fixture against Guinea-Bissau on January 13 in Abidjan.
The Round of 16 starts on January 27, with the quarterfinal and semifinals beginning on February 2 and 7 respectively.
| Round | Date |
| Group Stage | January 13-24, 2024 |
| Round of 16 | January 27-30, 2024 |
| Quarterfinal | February 2-3, 2024 |
| Semifinal | February 7, 2024 |
| Third place playoff | February 10, 2024 |
| Final | February 11, 2024 |
