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The Africa Cup of Nations, set to begin on Dec. 21 in Morocco, will feature 24 national teams competing across six groups, and Türkiye's top-tier football league will have a strong presence at the tournament.
A total of 21 players from 11 Super Lig clubs have been called up by their national teams to join the continent’s premier football competition, which concludes on Jan. 18.
Among Turkish clubs, Galatasaray and Alanyaspor are tied for the highest number of selections, each sending three players. Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen has been called up by Nigeria, Ismail Jakobs by Senegal, and Mario Lemina by Gabon.
Alanyaspor contributes Steve Mounie to Benin, Maestro to Angola, and Meschack Elia to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Fenerbahce will be represented by Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri, who joins the host nation’s squad, while his teammate Dorgeles Nene has been named by Mali.
Besiktas will be without Wilfred Ndidi and El Bilal Toure, who are joining Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, respectively. Trabzonspor’s Paul Onuachu and Christ Inao Oulai are also heading to the tournament, reinforcing the Nigerian and Ivorian squads.
Other Super Lig players have been selected by national teams, including Tunisia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Benin, with contributions from clubs such as Basaksehir, Kasimpasa, Goztepe, Samsunspor, Kocaelispor, and Caykur Rizespor.
Ivory Coast has chosen four players from Türkiye, the most of any participating national team, drawing on talents from several different clubs. Nigeria follows closely, while a number of other nations—including Senegal, Tunisia, Benin, and Angola—have opted for a mix of contributors from the same pool.
Countries like Gabon, Morocco, Tanzania, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have added one player each from the league.
The competition’s schedule, running through Jan. 18, cuts through a crucial stretch of the European football calendar. For clubs in Türkiye, this midseason disruption poses challenges, especially for those competing near the top or bottom of the league standings.
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