West Ham United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been called up to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 26-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
It means the right-back will join up with his national teammates immediately after West Ham’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Sunday, 14 December. In effect, Wan-Bissaka will only play three more matches for the Hammers before heading off to his first major international tournament with DR Congo.
The 2025 AFCON kicks off on 21 December, with the final taking place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 18 January.
Wan Bissaka will leave in two weeks
Six-Week Full-Back Headache for Nuno
Realistically, there is a possibility West Ham could be without both Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf for up to six weeks if their nations reach the final.
With Kyle Walker-Peters currently the club’s only fully fit full-back capable of covering both sides, the tournament poses a major problem for manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The Hammers boss is known to be chasing a left-back in the upcoming transfer window, but that still leaves a run of four or five games before any new signing could realistically arrive.
In short, AFCON is about to test West Ham’s depth — and Nuno’s squad management — to the limit.
chilwell on loan from Chelsea maybe, he’s kicking his heels wanting to get in world cup squad, just a thought..
lol, “Depth” ?? don’t think that’s a word that can be applied to West Ham’s squad.
This will mean Nuno will play even deeper – everyone in our 18 yard box and hope the 45 shots the opposition have all miss or get blocked. Opposition won’t need a ‘keeper ( not that they need one now) they can play with eleven outfield players.
What a debacle…..