Table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur could find themselves a little short at the beginning of next year, with 2023 AFCON forcing Ange Postecoglou to rearrange his Spurs squad.
Not only will the Australian coach be without Son Heung-min due to the 2023 Asian Cup, but he will also be missing the midfield duo of Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr.
Bissouma, in particular, has been crucial in Tottenham’s midfield since the beginning of the season, helping propel Spurs to the Premier League summit. The 27-year-old will be representing Mali at the tournament and could prove an enormous miss for Spurs amid their title bid.
Here is how many games Bissouma could miss for Spurs during 2023 AFCON.
Having been moved from last summer due to weather conditions, 2023 AFCON will now take place in 2024. The tournament begins on 13 January in Cote d’Ivoire and runs until 11 February.
Containing 24 teams made up of six groups of four, Premier League players at the tournament could play up to seven matches for their country, potentially missing just under a month of football for their clubs. However, if knocked out at the group stage, players could return to the United Kingdom within a little over a week.
Having been placed in Group E, Bissouma has avoided an awkward clash with teammate Sarr at 2023 AFCON. With three matches taking place between 16 January and 24 January, Mali will fancy their chances of making it to the knockout stages.
Mali begin with a clash against 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa before taking on 2004 AFCON winners Tunisia in a tough clash. Bissouma’s side then face a favourable final match against lowly Namibia.
Tottenham’s Premier League games during 2023 AFCON
Date / Kick-off time (BST) | Fixture |
|---|---|
14/01/24 – 16:30 | Man Utd vs Tottenham |
30/01/24 – 19:45 | Tottenham vs Brentford |
03/02/24 – 15:00 | Everton vs Tottenham |
10/02/24 – 15:00 | Tottenham vs Brighton |
The only league match that Bissouma is guaranteed to miss comes at Old Trafford on 14 January when Spurs face Manchester United. Just two days before Mali’s opener against South Africa, the midfielder will definitely be absent.
Mali’s progression at 2023 AFCON will impact just how much football Bissouma misses for Spurs, but, should Mali make it to the final, the former Brighton man could sit out an extra three Premier League games.
Bissouma would be absent for a clash with his former club when the Seagulls visit north London on 10 February, a day before the final, while he could be unavailable for games against Brentford and Everton as well.
However, Mali have never won AFCON, most recently making the final in 1972. While it’s possible that Bissouma will reach the latter stages of the tournament, it’s unlikely his country go on to lift the trophy.
Tottenham’s potential FA Cup games during 2023 AFCON
Round | Date |
|---|---|
Fourth round | 27/01/24 |
With Spurs not in Europe and already out of the Carabao Cup, the only other game Bissouma could miss for Tottenham is in the FA Cup fourth round.
Providing that Spurs make it past the third round, Bissouma is almost certain to miss the next stage of the competition on the weekend of 27 January. Given Mali’s final group stage match is only three days earlier, the 27-year-old will likely be absent even if his nation don’t make it to the knockout stages.
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