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Premier League AFCON XI: Including Andre Onana, Mo Salah and Yves Bissouma

The Africa Cup of Nations is upon us and some of the Premier League's biggest stars are featuring at the tournament in the Ivory Coast.

Here is our XI of current Premier League players who are bidding for glory with their international teams:

AFCON - Premier League XI:

GK: Andre Onana (Man Utd & Cameroon)

Andre Onana is undoubtedly one of Africa's top goalkeepers and he is expected to represent Cameroon at AFCON after reversing his international retirement.

Onana was sent home from last year's World Cup before helping Inter Milan reach the Champions League final and securing a summer move to Manchester United.

The former Ajax man was in the Cameroon squad for November's World Cup qualifiers, so Altay Bayindir, his understudy at Old Trafford, may have a chance to shine at the start of 2024.  
 

RB: Serge Aurier (Nottingham Forest & Ivory Coast)

Brighton and Ghana's Tariq Lamptey is a credible option, but Nottingham Forest's Serge Aurier has been a fixture in the Ivory Coast set-up since making his debut in 2013.

The former PSG and Tottenham defender, who joined Forest in September 2022, will be hoping to play a major role for the AFCON hosts, who last lifted the trophy in 2015.   
 

CB: Calvin Bassey (Fulham & Nigeria)

Fulham centre-back Calvin Bassey was born in Italy but represents Nigeria at international level.

The defender made his name at Rangers and played for Ajax in 2022/23 but has had a patchy start to his Premier League career at Craven Cottage, where Super Eagles teammate Alex Iwobi also plays his club football. 
 

CB: Nayef Aguerd (West Ham & Morocco)

West Ham centre-back Nayef Aguerd played four matches during Morocco's shock run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and his own goal against Canada was the only time the Atlas Lions conceded with him on the pitch.

Aguerd went on to win the Europa Conference League with the Hammers last season and the 32-cap defender could find himself facing club teammates Said Benrahma, Mohammed Kudus and Maxwel Cornet at AFCON. 

LB: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves & Algeria)

Algeria were crowned African champions in 2019 and Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri is hoping to be part of their latest AFCON campaign. The 22-year-old made his first senior appearance in March 2023, although Borussia Dortmund's Ramy Bensebaini could find himself ahead of him in the pecking order.
 

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CM: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham & Mali)

Midfielder Yves Bissouma has been an important player for Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham this season, starting 11 of their first 12 Premier League matches, so he will be missed when he joins up with Mali in the new year.

Spurs are also likely to be without Bissouma's 21-year-old midfield partner Pape Matar Sarr, who has already won 17 senior caps for Senegal.

CM: Idrissa Gueye (Everton & Senegal)

Idrissa Gueye has more than a century of caps for Senegal and was part of the team who won AFCON in 2021. The Everton midfielder also played at the 2019 tournament, where Senegal lost to Algeria in the final and he was named in the team of the tournament. 

CM: Sofyan Amrabat (Man Utd & Morocco)

Sofyan Amrabat's all-action performances in Morocco's midfield caught the eye at last year's World Cup and he signed for Manchester United on the final day of the 2023 summer transfer window.

Injuries have hampered the start of his Old Trafford career but Amrabat, nominated for 2023 African Player of the Year, could be a central figure in Morocco's bid for a first AFCON triumph since 1976. 

RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt)

Seven-time champions Egypt will be delighted by the early-season form of their star man Mohamed Salah in the Premier League.

The Liverpool forward has scored 10 goals in his first 12 Premier League matches in 2023/24, and will be keen to make up for the disappointment of losing on penalties to Senegal in the 2021 AFCON final in the latest edition of the tournament.
 

ST: Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea & Senegal)

Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson endeared himself to Chelsea supporters with a hat-trick in November's 4-1 Premier League win at Tottenham, although he is yet to score in six appearances for the Lions of Teranga.

The forward made his competitive debut as a substitute against the Netherlands at last year's World Cup but Senegal are not short of attacking talent with Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye also likely to be part of their squad heading to AFCON.
 

LW: Mohammed Kudus (West Ham & Ghana)

Nottingham Forest's Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Brentford pair Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) and Yoanne Wissa (DR Congo) are among the other Premier League-based attacking talents on show at AFCON.

West Ham fans will be sorry to see summer signing Mohammed Kudus leave on Ghana duty after his bright performances since arriving from Ajax. 

Kudus, who has scored nine goals in 28 appearances for his country, could be joined in the Black Stars' squad by Arsenal's Thomas Partey and Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew.
 

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