Which FPL Players are Going to AFCON?

The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is around the corner so we answer your top FPL AFCON Questions: Which FPL Picks will go to AFCON? When will this happen? When do you get your five free AFCON transfers? And when are these guys back!?

When is AFCON?

AFCON starts on the 21st December and finishes on the 18th January.

Obviously, it’s a knockout tournament so not every team will make it that far and many will get knocked out in the group stages. So, you may think that you can get away with holding a player.

Unless that player is already bench fodder, I wouldn’t. Potentially they will leave or have already left for international duty in gameweek 16, definitely by gameweek 17 and they probably won’t be back and available before gameweek 21.

When Do We Get Extra AFCON Transfers?

The FPL rules say:

So you get 5 free transfers in gameweek 16 regardless of how many you use the week before. So, make sure you use them even if it’s just a luxury move.

AFCON Fixtures v.s. FPL Gameweeks

6-8 December		FPL Gameweek 15
13-15 December		FPL Gameweek 16 (5 frees)
20-24 December	AFCON Matchday 1	FPL Gameweek 17
26-28 December	AFCON Matchday 2	FPL Gameweek 18
29-1 January	AFCON Matchday 3 Group Stage Ends	FPL Gameweek 19
3-4 January	AFCON Round of 16	FPL Gameweek 20
6-9 January	AFCON Quarter-Finals	FPL Gameweek 21
14 January	AFCON Semi-Finals
17-18 January	AFCON Final	FPL Gameweek 22

Who is Likely to Go Deep Into the Tournament?

At the time of writing, OddsChecker has Morrocco, Algeria, Senegal and Egypt as the four best teams in the tournament.

So, don’t expect Mo Salah, Ismalia Sarr, Ait-Nouri or Mazraoui back any time soon.

Mo is really the key here, he is the only one that you might conceivably rip up your team to get back.

If you do plan that, I would say you are reasonably safe to think it won’t be possible before gameweek 22 – basically, I’d be shocked if Egypt don’t make the quarter-finals.

Top FPL Picks Going to AFCON – Buy/Sell/Hold

I’m writing this before the international break games before gameweek 12 so, if any of these guys get injured then factor that in.

But, the key question is, should you buy, sell or hold these guys before AFCON begins?

Obviously, the closer we get to AFCON then the more I would encourage you to hold/sell. But, it’s currently four (maybe five) weeks you get out of these guys.

I am looking at everyone 1% owned and above btw.

Mbeumo – 32.0% – Buy

This guy has the 5th most shots, the xth most xGI and a great run of fixtures with West Ham and Wolves in the next five. I prefer Bruno Fernandes if you have the money but if you can’t find 0.5 he is a great pick.

Salah – 24.0% – Hold

I can’t argue for you to bring in a guy so expensive that is not currently delivering very well even with these fixtures. It’s not bad luck either, his underlyings are pretty similar to Mbeumo’s but he costs a huge amount more. And the money is the key problem, because most people have to make big changes to get to him.

Ismalia Sarr – 13.0% – Buy

11th highest xG in the league in a midfielder that only costs 6.7? Yes, please. If fixture congestion concerns you with Palace then I am there with you but also, let’s wait for them to drop off and enjoy it whilst it lasts?

Ndiaye – 11.9% – Hold/Sell

Ndiaye has been amazing so far this year as an FPL asset. He is currently the fifth best midfielder in the game and if you were smart enough to have him since day 1 then you only paid 6.5 for him.

BUT. And this is a big but. He has played all the good games on the front 19 – Leeds, Brighton, Wolves, West Ham, Sunderland – and he misses the gameweek 18 fixture against Burnley.

I wouldn’t be desperate to sell him and it feels fine to start him against Man United this week but I’d struggle to see why you wouldn’t jump to Minteh for example.

Wan-Bissaka – 5.7% & Diouf – 3.1% – Sell

If you have Wan B or Diouf then you are probably managing a dead team. West Ham suck. Sell them.

Ait-Nouri – 4.7% & Marmoush – 2.6% – Sell

Not nailed and possibly still injured – just get rid.

Reinildo – 4.3% – Hold

Fine to hold if only for how cheap he is. You might even be able to hold him through the tournament if you have enough bench depth but its a tad risky.

Aina – 2.4% – Sell

He is injured.

Baleba – 2.0% – Sell

Not nailed so sell him.

Tuanzebe – 1.8% – Hold

He is so cheap that I think you could conceivably hold him throughout the tournament.

Amad – 1.6% – Sell

I think he’s a bad pick regardless of AFCON. He plays as a defender but is a mid in FPL.

P. M. Sarr – 1.6% – Sell

Did you buy the wrong Sarr? Spurs fixtures are bad and so is he.

Iwobi – 1.5% – Hold/Sell

If I owned him, and I don’t because he isn’t a great asset and Fulham suck, then I would definitely play him against Sunderland this weekend. BUT. I would be looking for the exit door.

Are Sunderland More Targetable During AFCON?

A bit. They aren’t amazing anyway AND they probably have nine guys going to AFCON. Not nine starters but potentially five midfielders. I think it’s reasonable to expect a little drop off.

That’s It.

Now you know about all the key FPL picks who are likely going to AFCON. And then there is a big list below of a bunch of other guys to ignore who (frankly) aren’t picks anyway.