Ruben Amorim Faces AFCON Nightmare as Four Manchester United Players Could Be Unavailable
Manchester United’s preparations for the 2025/26 season are already facing a massive test, and the campaign hasn’t even kicked off yet. Ruben Amorim, who is gearing up for his first full season as Manchester United manager, is set to encounter one of the most challenging mid-season crises the club has seen in years.
According to Manchester Evening News, “Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will face an unwanted scenario during the 2025/26 season which will leave him without four key players.”
With Bryan Mbeumo, Andre Onana, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo all likely to be called up for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), United could find themselves without these crucial stars for as many as six games across the Premier League, FA Cup, and other competitions.
The tournament, which runs from December 21 to January 18, will coincide with the busiest period of the Premier League calendar – the Christmas and New Year fixtures.
For Amorim, the timing couldn’t be worse. United are set to face Aston Villa on December 20, followed by a rapid-fire sequence of matches against Newcastle, Wolves, and Leeds in just seven days.
After that, they’ll travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley before launching their FA Cup campaign in the third round. The high-pressure run concludes with a blockbuster derby clash against Manchester City on January 17 – all while potentially missing four of their most influential players.
The absence of Mbeumo alone will be a huge blow. The Cameroonian winger, who joined United this summer alongside Matheus Cunha, contributed significantly to his former club Brentford’s attack and is expected to play a key role at Old Trafford.
With Onana commanding the goalpost, Mazraoui solidifying the defense, and Amad emerging as one of United’s brightest attacking talents, losing all four simultaneously could derail United’s ambitions during this crucial phase.
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The AFCON 2025 group stage will see players unavailable for matches against Villa, Newcastle, Wolves, and Bournemouth (scheduled for December 13 to allow for preparation).
Should Cameroon, Morocco, or Ivory Coast progress to the latter stages, the quartet may not return until after the final on January 18, leaving United without their services for the start of 2026.
Amorim is already under pressure to deliver after a disappointing finish to last season, and while signings like Cunha and Diego Leon have strengthened the squad, questions remain about depth, particularly during AFCON absences.
Missing out on transfer targets Ollie Watkins and Viktor Gyokeres has only heightened concerns about firepower, with the club still searching for a new centre-forward before the opening clash against Arsenal on August 17.
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