“Flying high, Manchester United is about to lose both of its wings due to an unavoidable reason – what solution does Amorim have?”

Manchester United’s resurgence under Rúben Amorim has been one of the most uplifting stories of the Premier League season. After months of turbulence, doubts, and whispers about his future, the Portuguese coach has finally brought stability and belief back to Old Trafford. The club is now on a solid 5-match unbeaten streak, sitting just one point away from the top four. For the first time in a long while, fans are beginning to feel hopeful.

But just as United begin to soar, a new storm is forming on the horizon, one completely out of Amorim’s control. And if not handled carefully, it could derail everything he has built in the past year.

That storm is the Africa Cup of Nations.

The timing could not be worse. From late December to mid-January, AFCON will pull away three players who have become crucial to Manchester United’s identity and structure: Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco, Amad Diallo of Ivory Coast, and the electrifying Bryan Mbeumo of Cameroon.

While losing three players at once is already a heavy blow, the real crisis lies elsewhere. AFCON will wipe out United’s entire right flank. The club will be left without both Mbeumo and Diallo, the two men responsible for United’s most dangerous attacking patterns in recent weeks.

Their partnership has been nothing short of devastating. Diallo, transformed under Amorim into an attacking full-back, has provided relentless support, energy, and creativity. Mbeumo, playing ahead of him, has evolved into a cold, ruthless finisher. His goal against Tottenham marked his fourth strike in four games, a run of form that has made him one of the most feared wide attackers in the league.

Analysts have even compared him to Mohamed Salah, noting his ability to stay emotionally composed and brutally efficient in front of goal. Losing such a player at the peak of his confidence is a tactical nightmare for any manager.

To make matters worse, Mazraoui — the natural backup option who could have covered for Diallo — will also be leaving for national duty. This means the entire right side of Amorim’s system will be left empty. Both Plan A and Plan B vanish at the same time, leaving a hole too large to ignore.

What makes the situation even trickier is the strength of Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Morocco. These nations are among the favorites to go deep into AFCON, meaning all three United players could be away for the full duration of the tournament. If their teams reach the semifinals or final, United could be without them for close to a month.

Amorim now faces one of the most difficult challenges of his tenure: rebuilding his right flank from scratch in the middle of a top-four race. The January schedule is unforgiving, filled with intense fixtures that require consistency and tactical cohesion.

The responsibility will now shift to players like Mason Mount, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, and even Matheus Cunha. They will have to carry the load and fill the void left by the departing stars. But none of them naturally replicate the explosive combination that Mbeumo and Diallo offer.

This test will reveal whether Manchester United truly have the depth required to compete at the highest level. It will also show whether Amorim’s tactical flexibility can withstand one of the harshest disruptions a manager can face.

As United fans celebrate their recent rise, they must now brace themselves. The coming winter will determine whether the team continues to climb or whether the AFCON storm clips their wings just when they started flying again