Man United Brace for AFCON Absence of Onana and Amrabat: Key Games They Could Miss

Manchester United fans face a potential January headache as goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielder Sofyan Amrabat have been called up to represent their respective countries, Cameroon and Morocco, at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

The tournament runs from January 13th to February 11th, meaning both players are guaranteed to miss the club's first two matches of the new year: the FA Cup clash against Wigan Athletic on January 8th and the Premier League encounter with Tottenham Hotspur on January 14th.

However, the potential disruption doesn't stop there. If Cameroon and Morocco progress beyond the group stage, which concludes at the end of January, Onana and Amrabat could miss additional crucial fixtures. The Round of 16 takes place on January 27th-30th, potentially clashing with a fourth-round FA Cup tie for United.

Reaching the quarter-finals (February 2nd & 3rd) or semi-finals (February 7th) would further extend their absences, eating into United's crucial Premier League schedule in February. In the worst-case scenario, where both nations reach the final on February 11th, Onana and Amrabat could be unavailable for up to six matches.

Here's the full list of potential games they could miss:

vs Wigan Athletic - FA Cup 3rd Round (January 8th)

vs Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League (January 14th)

vs TBA - FA Cup 4th Round (January 27th/28th)

vs Wolves - Premier League (February 1st)

vs West Ham United - Premier League (February 4th)

vs Aston Villa - Premier League (February 11th)

Erik ten Hag will undoubtedly be hoping for a swift exit for both Cameroon and Morocco to minimize the disruption to his squad. However, with AFCON coinciding with a crucial period in the season, Man United fans can expect a January filled with nervous glances at the tournament results.