Arsenal will have no representatives at AFCON 2025 for the first time in a while.
The gooners will fondly remember Mohamed Elneny’s time at the club, one thing we will fondly remember as well especially in the latter stages of his Arsenal career will be the fact that he was at times the only African representing us at some the major international tournaments.
When Mo left, it meant that only Thomas Partey could represent the Gunners in major international tournaments. The next one coming up is the African cup of nations, Africa’s equivalent to the Euros or Copa America, where Africa’s elite countries battle it out on a biennial basis to see who will lay claim to the crown of being the best in Africa. The last edition saw Ivory Coast crowned champions of Africa when they came from a goal down to beat Nigeria 2-1 in February of this year.
We had only one representatives in the last tournament (Elneny) due to Partey being injured, but we won’t have any for the next edition.
This is because Thomas Partey’s country, Ghana, have not qualified for next years edition, thereby ending all hopes of seeing Partey play. Ghana’s draw to Angola on Friday meant they’ll be entering into the final qualifying group game four points behind second placed Sudan and a whopping 10 points behind first placed Angola. This has ended any hopes of Arsenal sending a player to the AFCONs even though Partey might not stay with the Gunners beyond his contractor’s expiration.
This will be a minor blow but all our African Gooners would’ve all loved to have an Arsenal player vying for AFCON title!
BENJAMIN KENNETH
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What a refreshing change. We used to have so many African players during the Wenger era and always worried about injuries during Afcon every other winter.
Ironic that our kit celebrates the club’s African ties at a time when we have a manager who doesn’t seem to trust African players.
“We have a manager that does not seem to triet Africa. Players?”
This kind of ridiculous virtue signalling that is so bereft of any ounce of rationality and substance. What went wrong with our modern education systems?
You are nonchalantly making serious racial, xenophobic, bigoted charges against Arteta with no evidence to back up your sensationalism whatsoever. You are accusing Arteta of a serious matter / charge that you have got to prove..
It gets to a point where some of you people become so vindictive, full of unhealthy grudges and personal vendettas against Arteta that it’s getting into these uncharted waters.. The projections need to stop. It’s okay to not personally like someone but to cavalierly accuse them of serious thing such xenophobia, racism, bigotry etc is something. Taking your dislike of him to such nasty levels is sick..
🤦♂️
What a completely unfounded statement …………… sorry, words fail me! Come on Dougal, surely you’re better than that?
Dougal,
Ask anyone on this forum, and they will tell you that I’m one of Arteta’s biggest critics.
But even I wouldn’t give him that label.
If you look at what you say, people could actually label you that way. I’m not saying you are, but it could come across that way.
At least from an Arsenal perspective, having no representation at the Africa Cup of Nations, means that our squad won’t be short on numbers come January. (Unless injured of course).
The basis of this article is not totally substantiated.
Arsenal may still buy Victor Osimhen of Nigeria or another African player whose country has qualified.The tournament is still a long way off as it will kick off in December 2025 and there are two transfer windows between now and then.
Chima,
Unless the African player’s in question are strikers, apparently we don’t need a striker.
Something that’s needed to be addressed for three seasons now.
Still, look on the bright side, we always have Jesus.