AFCON Concerns For Forest Recruitment

The AFCON affect is potentially changing Nottingham Forest’s recruitment strategy.

AFCON: The largest, and main, football tournament in the continent of Africa, one which features 24 teams, with over 50 teams eligible to qualify. With the African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) next year (middle of the 23/24 season), what effect will this have on the Premier League, and more importantly, Nottingham Forest?

Firstly, what is AFCON?

As mentioned in the opening text, AFCON is a continental football tournament based in AFRICA, spanning roughly four weeks, encompassing 24 of the best national teams in Africa, all fighting for the chance to win the most prestigious trophy in the continent. Sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), AFCON has been showcasing the best of African talent since 1957 – originally featuring only three teams (Egypt, Sudan & Ethiopia), the tournament has grown exponentially since this, featuring over 20 teams, and over 50 eligible to qualify.

Some of the excellent footballing talents to grace the game have featured in AFCON, to name a few, the likes of George Weah, Yaya Toure & Samuel Eto’o – all players so highly regarded at both Club level and National level. Africa continues to produce great footballers, and one can only imagine some of the talents yet to come – some of whom will likely feature at AFCON in early 2024.

For the next AFCON, African Cup Of Nations 2023, Ivory Coast will be the hosts as the tournament takes place from the 13th January – 11th February 2024, in the ‘middle’ of the Premier League 23/24 season – great for those playing, but a slight concern for some Premier League teams, such as Nottingham Forest. And as per FIFA rules, players “must be released and start travel to their representative team no later than Monday morning the week preceding the week when the relevant final competition starts.”

This next tournament is the 34th since it began in the 60’s.

Why is AFCON a concern for Nottingham Forest?

While the club will be by no means concerned for their players representing their nations at an international break, AFCON is very different – sitting in a pivotal point in a team’s season, clubs will lose various players due to their attendance at said tournament for almost four weeks.

The Premier League has 59 African players playing within it, and Nottingham Forest have, alone, around 6 of those – roughly 10.1% of the entire number of African internationals in the league. Out of every Premier League team, Nottingham Forest have the most players available to play in AFCON – double those in 2nd place (Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace & West Ham [3]) While this would normally be nothing more than a statistic of nationalities within a football team, this season it will have a huge impact on Nottingham Forest – losing, potentially, six players through AFCON at that time of the Premier League could be detrimental, to say the least.

The six players available to play at AFCON from Nottingham Forest are as follows: Willy Boly (IVC), Serge Aurier (IVC), Moussa Niakhate (SN), Cheikhou Kouyate (SN), Emmanuel Dennis (NG) & Taiwo Awoniyi (NG). Although six are available, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all six will feature at this AFCON – however, it’s likely the majority of these will. Losing some of these players will be a loss not only for the quality in depth some of them add, but also the first-team contribution they make.

The African contingents impact at Forest:

Arguably, without African players in this Nottingham Forest side, the East Midlands club would not have maintained Premier League status.

Taiwo Awoniyi: To name one player, Taiwo Awoniyi’s impact at the back-end of the 22/23 season was profound, and season defining – scoring 10 in the league throughout the season, six of those in the last four games, enabling Forest to accumulate 8 points in the final fixtures, and secure safety in the Premier League – absolute heroics from the Nigerian forward.

Serge Aurier: A player with the mentality of a lion, the physicality of one also, someone who plays with infectious passion and changed the minds of many fans who pre-judged him as someone with a “bad attitude”. His efforts have been excellent, and he’s been one of Forest’s most consistent players since joining. Aurier on a free was absolutely excellent recruitment.

Willy Boly: Hindered by injuries, nobody will ever forget just how distraught the first five minutes were at Craven Cottage, not because of his performance, but just by how both Centre-backs had come off with hamstring issues within the opening minutes of the fixture – Boly had lead the line so well in previous matches, losing him at that time was so unfortunate. Despite these injuries, Boly has been an excellent leader in the defence, and before Felipe was arguably the Reds best Central-Defender.

Cheikhou Kouyate: Another player who’s had his issues with injuries, Kouyate was always a solid option for Steve Cooper – someone with a vast knowledge of the Premier League, and despite his age, still had many qualities. A hard-worker, steady midfielder.

Moussa Niakhate: Playing better, typically, in a back-three, Moussa Niakhate had a solid start to his time at Forest – starting in the first PL fixture against Newcastle United, and despite the loss, played well. A similar performance against West Ham ensued, before a hamstring problem forced him off – he wasn’t available for a further 7 months, despite rumours of a return. Since he’s been back, Cooper has had someone he can rely on not only at the back, but also going forward – numerous Forest goals have come as a result of Niakhate’s throw-ins.

Emmanuel Dennis: Different to the other African players above, Dennis’ impact at Forest has been rather minimal – having a few injury issues himself, while also not being selected to play on many occasions. Other than a few good performances, notably *that* goal against Newcastle United, his impact was certainly outweighed by expectations of him.

Andre Ayew: Signed for just six-months by Nottingham Forest, Ayew failed to make an impact – goal-less since returning to the Premier League from the Middle-East, and as of June 30th 2023 a free agent once again.

Overall, Forest’s group of African players have had an astounding impact on the club’s season, despite most of them having some form of major injury. Awoniyi’s groin injury didn’t stop him saving Forest with crucial goals, Niakhate’s hamstring problems didn’t kill his desire to succeed with Forest, and pre-judgements didn’t hinder Aurier’s enthusiasm the moment he walked onto the grounds of the Nigel Doughty Training Ground.

Interestingly, Nottingham Forest’s African players all have a colleague from the same nationality – something of which, as we’ve seen, only has a positive impact on team mentality. Building chemistry within the team is something Cooper has excelled at while managing Forest – there was, and still is, a real togetherness amongst the squad.

How will this impact Forest’s recruitment strategy?

Given the chance that six players could e out of the side, there is no doubt that recruitment this season will have to analyse the effects of AFCON on squad numbers, and how potential signings provide depth for those areas, or potentially lose out on depth as a result of said signing going to such a tournament.

For example, Nottingham Forest target, Kelechi Iheanacho, if he signed, would perhaps add quality going forward alongside fellow Nigerian, Taiwo Awoniyi, till January, but Forest will then be left with a gap, as two strikers leave for AFCON – Forest have to take this into account. Already, it casts some concerns for such a deal.

In terms of depth, Forest will lose 1 ST, 1 LM, 2 CB’s, 1 RB, 1 CDM/CM – huge gaps. If Forest are going to keep momentum going into the early area of 2024, recruitment will have to be shrewd, and considering the effects a month without six players will have.

Given this, I can imagine that versatility will be at the forefront of Forest’s recruitment strategy this summer. Signing players with the ability to play as a ST/LW, CB/RB etc. The likes of Hudson-Odoi, an interesting target, as he has played as a LW/CAM/RWB, positions Forest will need depth in. As I understand, Nottingham Forest have made enquiries regarding Hudson-Odoi & Ryan Sessegnon – two players who could certainly add quality in the LM/CAM positions.

Having U21’s available for first team selection will be important also. If Forest can sign quality players under the age of 22, it would help them out substantially during the AFCON period – definitely easier said than done, however. Forest have already looked at U21 eligible Norwich Defender, Andrew Omobamidele.

The 25-man squad registration is another important factor to consider – all six of the names mentioned were in it since February’s Registration deadline: now imagine Forest only having 19 players available for selection. As mentioned, having U21’s available will most certainly help, as they can be selected without official registration. Emmanuel Dennis’ potential departure would also free up a space in the 25-man register, too.

Absolutely crucial that any new signings are made early-on, and integrated via a good run-in during the pre-season – Forest won’t have the opportunity to have players only ‘find their feet’ in January given the aforementioned restraints caused by AFCON.

The Overall View?

This will be a real test for Forest’s recruitment team, as not only will they already have to add depth & quality to positions due to the demands of the most prestigious and unforgiving league in the world, but also take into account the effects of AFCON at an ‘awkward’ period of the season. The need for players on-par with current players, if not better, is crucial not just due to AFCON, but for maintaining Premier League status post 2023/24 season.

Once again Nottingham Forest find themselves in a place of real adversity: the team with the highest number of African athletes within their team, ahead of a tournament which they could all be attending, another hurdle but not one that is impossible to overcome – good recruitment and planning is key, but most certainly AFCON will impact the strategy for the 23/24 season.

Thanks from me…

Writing is, and has always been, a passion of mine – people reading my writing means a lot to me, and I hope I’ve been able to broaden your thinking in regards to Forest’s transfers ahead of the 23/24 season, and give you a very brief understanding of the work Forest’s recruitment team will need to do ahead of this second Premier League season.

Thank you for reading – more articles on Nottingham Forest coming weekly!