Much of the focus during this international break will be on the Nations League fixtures from a European perspective. However, there are Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers to keep an eye on too.
These are qualifiers for the 2027 tournament, which will take place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Often, the European football calendar is interrupted by AFCON, but this tournament will be played in June and July. This change has been made to coincide with the off-season in Europe.
There are no current West Ham United players involved for African sides this international break. Maxwel Cornet, having not played for the Hammers this season, stood little chance of getting back into the Ivory Coast's side.
Former West Ham players involved in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
El Hadji Malick Diouf - Senegal
Diouf left West Ham United for Brentford at the start of this season. Offensively, Diouf was very good for the Hammers, but his defensive displays left a lot to be desired. He played in one game in the Championship for West Ham this campaign, and has now played twice for the Bees in the Premier League.
His Senegal side has qualifying fixtures against Mozambique and Ethiopia, followed by a friendly against Comoros during this international break. Senegal are now managed by Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, who was born in the country but represented France.
Diouf was part of the Senegal side that thought they had won the 2025 AFCON. However, the side they defeated in the final, Morocco, was declared champions because the Senegal side stormed off the pitch as a result of a penalty that was awarded against them. They eventually returned, and Brahim Diaz's spot-kick was missed.
Mohammed Kudus - Ghana
Kudus made the unpopular move of transferring to Tottenham Hotspur from the Hammers last year. Moving from West Ham to Spurs had not happened since Scott Parker back in 2011. However, since Kudus, Mateus Fernandes has also made the move.
His first season with Spurs was blighted by injuries. However, he has recovered from his hamstring injury and set up Conor Gallagher's goal against Aston Villa. Remarkably, that was Spurs' first Premier League goal of the season in Matchweek 5. Tottenham still went on to lose 3-2 to Villa. Kudus' Ghana side has qualifiers against the Ivory Coast and Gambia, followed by a friendly against Morocco.
Nayef Aguerd and Issa Diop - Morocco
Morocco has two former Hammers, Aguerd and Diop. Football in Morocco is on a real high as they got to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and the quarter-finals of the tournament last summer. They were controversially declared AFCON Champions for 2025. Morocco is also co-hosting the next World Cup predominantly alongside Spain and Portugal. They have qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho before their friendly with Kudus' Ghana.
Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Wan-Bissaka - DR Congo
Wan-Bissaka is on loan from West Ham at Aston Villa, who have an obligation to buy him permanently. Masuaku left the Hammers for Besiktas in 2022 in a loan move that was made permanent. He then returned to the Premier League with Sunderland, was loaned to Lens, and now plays back in Turkey with Konyaspor.
DR Congo was knocked out of the World Cup last summer by England in the round of 32. However, they did give Thomas Tuchel's side a scare after taking the lead early on. They have AFCON qualifiers against Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe before two friendlies against Uganda.
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