Get ready for a major shake-up in Scottish football! Ten key players from the SPFL are set to jet off to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon 2025), leaving their clubs in a tricky spot during the hectic festive period. But here's the kicker: this isn't just a minor inconvenience—it's a record-breaking exodus, up from just three players in Afcon 2023. And this is the part most people miss: how will their absence impact the Scottish Premiership and Championship races?
The Big Absences: Who’s Heading to Morocco?
Hibernian is hit the hardest, with three players making the trip. Rocky Bushiri, the 26-year-old DR Congo defender, is arguably the biggest loss, having become a cornerstone of David Gray’s backline. Miguel Chaiwa, the 21-year-old Zambian midfielder, was just starting to shine after his summer move from Young Boys. And Jordan Obita, the 32-year-old Uganda left-back, will be battling to add to his six international caps. But here’s where it gets controversial: will their national associations allow them to play for Hibs one last time before they leave? As of Friday, David Gray was still in the dark.
Celtic could have had three players in Morocco too, but Kelechi Iheanacho’s hamstring injury ruled him out. Still, Sebastian Tounekti (Tunisia) and Michel-Ange Balikwisha (DR Congo) will be missing, leaving new manager Wilfried Nancy short on wide options. Tounekti, a regular starter since his summer move from Hammarby, has already earned three caps for Tunisia. Balikwisha, despite limited starts for Celtic, made a dramatic DR Congo debut, scoring in a penalty shootout win over Nigeria.
Rangers narrowly avoided a triple departure. Mohamed Diomande missed the Ivory Coast squad after a shaky start to the season, and Youssef Chermiti hasn’t yet switched allegiances from Portugal to Tunisia. That leaves only Nasser Djiga, the 23-year-old Burkina Faso center-back, who’s been a stopgap solution for Rangers’ injury-hit defense. Will he be allowed to face Hibs before heading off?
Heart of Midlothian, the Premiership leaders, will miss Pierre Landry Kabore, the 24-year-old Burkina Faso striker who’s been in fine form since his August move from Narva Trans. His hat-trick for Burkina Faso in October and a brace for Hearts against Dundee highlight his growing importance.
Motherwell might feel the biggest impact, losing Tawanda Maswanhise, the joint top scorer in the Premiership with eight goals. The 23-year-old Zimbabwean has been a revelation since joining from Leicester City in August. His absence will be keenly felt across the pitch.
St Johnstone and Dunfermline Athletic, both Championship promotion contenders, will miss Uche Ikpeazu (Uganda) and Alfons Amade (Mozambique), respectively. Ikpeazu, a cult hero at Hearts, has struggled for starts at St Johnstone but remains a valuable squad player. Amade, meanwhile, has been a regular for Mozambique since switching allegiances from Germany.
When Will They Return?
That’s the million-dollar question. The group stage ends between December 29-31, with the knockout rounds stretching into mid-January. Will any of these players make it to the final on January 18? It depends on their national teams’ progress. For example, Chaiwa’s Zambia faces a tough group with Morocco, Mali, and Comoros, while Maswanhise’s Zimbabwe is the underdog in a group with Egypt, South Africa, and Angola.
But here’s the real question: How will their prolonged absence affect their clubs’ ambitions? Will Hibs’ defense crumble without Bushiri? Can Celtic’s wide play cope without Tounekti and Balikwisha? And what about Motherwell’s goal-scoring prowess without Maswanhise? These are the questions that will keep fans—and managers—up at night.
What do you think? Will the SPFL clubs struggle without their Afcon-bound stars, or do they have the depth to weather the storm? Let us know in the comments below!
