The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is a few weeks away, but few countries have been dealt with huge blows before the competition kicks off in Ivory Coast next year.

Some of the countries that qualified for the biggest football tournament on the continent will be without their key players.

Taiwo Awoniyi

The Nigerian striker was the first top player to be ruled out of the competition after it was confirmed by Nottingham Forest that the Nigerian striker aggravated his groin injury in the Super Eagles 1-1 draw with Lesotho in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Bryan Mbeumo

The Brentford forward was one of the top players to look out for in the competition, but he won't be part of the Cameroon squad due to an ankle injury.

Gift Orban

The Nigerian striker was one of the big names that was excluded from Jose Peseiro's 50-provisional list for AFCON next year.

The Gent striker is automatically ruled out of the competition after failing to make the list.

Lebo Mothiba

The South African striker made Hugo Broos' 50-man preliminary list for the tournament but was ruled out of the competition after he was diagnosed with a fracture on the patella of his left knee during RC Strasbourg game against FC Lorient in the French Ligue 1, according to a report by iDiskiTimes.

Senegal has been tipped as the favourite to retain the title they won for the first time in 2022, but the Teranga Lions will face stiff competition for the title from teams like Egypt and Morocco.

According to Euronews, Egypt is the most successful team in the Africa Cup of Nations as the Pharaohs boast a remarkable seven-time championship record and will hope to extend that in Ivory Coast.