Not just AFCON, Everton have another emerging issue that David Moyes cannot avoid
The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Sunday, December 21, and Everton will be without three of their first-team players.
Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye will represent Senegal at the tournament, while left-back Adam Aznou could feature for Morocco.
David Moyes will miss the first two players, in particular, as Ndiaye has been in exceptional form for Everton, and Gueye is a crucial figure in his midfield.
That is despite Gueye missing Everton’s last three matches after being sent off for his extraordinary clash with teammate Michael Keane against Manchester United.
Moyes will be planning for life temporarily without two of his key players, and it isn’t the only emerging problem on his hands.
Everton players at risk of a suspension
Discipline has been a problem for the Toffees in 2025/26, as Tim Iroegbunham and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have already missed a match each through suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.
Unsurprisingly, several other players in the squad are close to the five yellow card threshold, which extends to 10 yellows being the requirement to receive a two-match ban from game week 19 onwards.
Everton players at risk of suspension
- James Garner – 4
- Jack Grealish – 3
- James Tarkowski – 3
- Carlos Alcaraz – 3
- Vitalii Mykolenko – 3
James Garner is currently one booking away from a one-match ban, while four of his teammates are on three yellow cards, meaning they have to receive two cards between now and game week 19 for a one-match ban.
Everton face the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Burnley and Nottingham Forest between now and December 30, with the possibility that one or more of their players will receive a suspension.
Who will step up in Ndiaye’s absence?
Gueye leaving for AFCON isn’t a huge blow to Moyes, as Dewsbury-Hall has flourished in a deeper midfield role alongside Garner.
On the flip side, Everton will seriously miss the energy, dynamism and quality of Ndiaye down the right flank, with the 25-year-old posting four goals and two assists in 15 appearances.
Ndiaye’s absence from the Hill Dickinson Stadium is a tough situation to face, although it means someone else will have to step up.
Tyler Dibling is a contender to start on the right flank and perhaps finally show why the Toffees paid big money for him from Southampton in the summer.
The 19-year-old has 76 minutes of action across six top-flight matches this term, and this is arguably the best chance he will get all season to demonstrate his qualities.