Dory Roshan players absent due to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations: Al Ahly and Al Hilal are the most affected
The Saudi Professional League is facing a significant technical challenge at present, coinciding with the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco. Fourteen high-profile players will be absent from Saudi pitches, having left their clubs to answer the call of national duty and represent their countries in the continent's premier tournament. This presents coaches with a real test in compensating for these impactful absences.
Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal... the price of stardom
Al-Ahli tops the list of clubs most affected by this African campaign, as the team is missing key players in three different lines. The "Royal" club will be without Algerian playmaker Riyad Mahrez, Ivorian midfield dynamo Franck Kessié, and Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. This numerical and qualitative shortage puts Al-Ahli's coaching staff in a tactical predicament, requiring urgent solutions to maintain the team's balance.
In the same vein, Saudi football leaders Al-Hilal face equally significant absences, as the Riyadh-based club will be without two of its key defensive players: the towering Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and the solid Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly. These absences will test the depth of the Riyadh club's bench and its ability to continue accumulating points despite the circumstances.
Distributing absences among the remaining clubs
The impact wasn't limited to the two major clubs; other prominent teams were also affected. Al-Nassr will be without their Senegalese star Sadio Mane, while Al-Ittihad will be missing Mali's Mohamed Doumbia. The remaining absences are spread across several other clubs: Jawad El Yamiq (Morocco) will miss Al-Najma, Meziani Maoulida (Comoros) will be absent for Al-Kholoud, Elias Mokwana (South Africa) will miss Al-Hazm, Mohau Nkota (South Africa) will miss Al-Ettifaq, Fashion Sakala (Zambia) will miss Al-Fayha, Christian Bassogog (Cameroon) will miss Al-Akhdoud, and Zaidou Youssouf (Comoros) will miss Al-Fateh.
Seven clubs are safe from the "FIFA virus"
In contrast, seven clubs breathed a sigh of relief as their squads remained unaffected by these international call-ups, potentially giving them a competitive edge in the upcoming rounds by allowing them to capitalize on the reduced number of opponents. These clubs are: Al-Taawoun, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Khaleej, Neom, Al-Shabab, Al-Riyadh, and Damac. This period could present a golden opportunity for these teams to improve their positions in the league standings.
Global implications of the Roshan League
It is worth noting that the selection of 14 players from the Saudi League to participate in a tournament as prestigious as the Africa Cup of Nations, representing nine national teams and occupying crucial positions including goalkeeper, defense, and attack, reflects the tremendous qualitative leap achieved by the Roshan League. The league is no longer just a passing phase, but has become a preferred destination for top-tier stars from across the African continent, confirming the increased market and technical value of the competition and its growing prominence on the global football map.
