Everton boss David Moyes. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)placeholder image
Everton boss David Moyes. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everton are set to lose two key players to the African Cup of Nations and David Moyes has learned when they will jet off to Morroco.
Everton are heading into a busy period of fixtures and they are doing so knowing that their squad depth is going to be stretched to the limits.
Long term absentee Jarrad Branthwaite won’t be seen until the new year with suspensions also likely to play their part with James Garner walking a fine line, TIm Iroegbunam already missing a game after accumulating five cards and Idrissa Gana Gueye picking up a three-match ban. With Michael Keane struggling for full fitness and several players being asked to go to the well time after time, David Moyes will be thankful for the good news that he has received about two members of his squad.
Everton learn Ndiaye and Gueye AFCON fate
A post on Everton’s official X site has confirmed when both Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye will play their last games of 2025 for the club before joining up with Senegal for the African Cup of Nations: “Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye will report to Senegal for AFCON 2025 on Monday 15 December. They will therefore both be available for our game at Chelsea on Saturday 13 December.”
This is a week before Senegal’s first fixture against Botswana which is as close as Moyes could have dreamed of with the last group game being on the 30th of Decemeber. For all that the Toffees boss would wish his players well, only missing a key duo of his team for just two weeks would be a very welcome Christmas present ahead of being able to strengthen in January.
Not only is Gueye one of Everton’s most experienced players, he is also a key component in midfield, doing the dirty work protecting the defence so that the more creative players in front of him can do their jobs with more freedom. As for Ndiaye, his form has seen him linked with Liverpool and he has been one of the Premier League’s most exciting wingers so far. However long they are away for will be painfully felt.
Moyes set to unleash Dibling?
One player who could benefit from Ndiaye’s absence is a player who has been seen for just 167 minutes since signing for £35m is Tyler Dibling who Moyes has suggested could be unleashed in the coming weeks: “Those boys are young, up-and-coming talents. We’ve not necessarily needed Adam [Aznou] because our left-back’s been doing okay. We’ve not necessarily needed Tyler at the moment because our wide players are doing okay.
“I see them every day in training. They’ve got good bits to go – they’re not the finished article, anyway. I’m the one who gets a chance to see them most days and probably have an idea of what they’re capable of. So we need them to step up. We want them as promising players. We’re hopefully going to try and get Tyler ready.
“Nobody’s really talking about how we’re going to lose Ili mid-December and there’ll be opportunities that arise for players [then] and we’ll see what comes around at that time.” Consistency of selection has been pivotal for Moyes, but the dark nights, British weather and fatigue will soon start to play a part, Dibling should be handed his chance to impress.
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