Ligue 1 McDonald's proud of its African players

"It's like that: we have to make do with it. It has been years since this competition has fallen at this time of year. We adapt. We foresee it at the start of the season," says Paris FC manager Stéphane Gilli, who will have to do without five starters for at least two games if their selected players reach the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.

"In our case, I didn't expect to have so many [absences]," added Gilli, who has seen Ilan Kebbal and Samir Chergui (Algeria), Moustapha Mbow (Senegal), Moses Simon (Nigeria), and Jean-Philippe Krasso (Ivory Coast) leave to join up with their national teams to compete in the AFCON.

Promoted sides decimated

"But it gives value to them and their clubs, too. They can measure their progress and we are very happy that they become internationals," concluded the Paris FC manager, who will be without his African players for the derby against PSG on 4th January, and against Nantes on 18th January, a crucial match in the relegation battle.

Paris FC and their five players are, alongside FC Lorient, another promoted side, the most affected Ligue 1 McDonald's side by the AFCON.

SCO Angers, who sit in a surprising 10th place, will see "only" four players leave for Morocco, including goalkeeper Hervé Koffi. Their sporting director, Laurent Boissier, was categorical at the end of July. "If our number two (Melvin Zinga) isn't capable of playing three matches, then we've chosen the wrong number two. So Hervé will play in the AFCON and our number two will play," he said, summarising the thoughts of all of his colleagues at other clubs, who have anticipated the absences of their players in December and January.

The wait is over. AFCON is here! 🌍 pic.twitter.com/XbrGzVWUvz
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 21, 2025

"My only fear with the national team is that there are players in our squad who leave and will almost not play at all. That is what is a shame. The boy who goes, who plays, can even come back stronger. The ones who don't participate in any matches are more difficult because they'll lose rhythm," said Angers manager Alexandre Dujeux.

Fatalists, the league managers are more annoyed when the fragile balance found in their team is threatened by the departures of key players. That is the case for Paulo Fonseca, the Lyon manager, who will have to do without their partnership at the centre of defence, Angola's Clinton Mata and Senegal's Moussa Niakhaté.

"Mixed feelings"

"This season, they have put in big performances. We are the team with the most clean sheets in Europe," said the Portuguese manager, born in Mozambique. "They are in large part responsible for our great defensive performances. These are the leaders of the group. My feeling is mixed. I want them to go far at AFCON but I hope that they come back quickly."

That is also the case for his colleague, Roberto De Zerbi, at Marseille. He will also lose two key players: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) and Nayef Aguerd (Morocco). The latter's stay could last since the Atlas Lions have the legitimate ambition of going to the end of "their" tournament.

PSG did all they could to get Achraf Hakimi back to fitness for the competition. He suffered a serious ankle injury in the Champions League against Bayern Munich on 4th November. The French and European champions understood what the competition meant to the player, considered the best full-back in the world and the poster boy of the tournament. Still harmful, Hakimi's absence will probably have less of an impact than that of the five absentees at their neighbours, Paris FC.

>> Five young Ligue 1 McDonald's players to watch at AFCON 2025