African Cup of Nations – Reviewed Participants

With the African Cup of Nations only now a month away, we thought we’d roll out another reminder on the main protagonists set to depart from the Premier League. The last couple of weeks have brought news of a couple of international withdrawals, while South Africa are also keen to persuade a certain Everton midfielder to turn his back on international retirement:

The following 16 nations are set to take part in January’s tournament:

Ghana, Mali, Zambia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Ethiopia, Cape Verde, Angola, Niger, Togo, DR Congo, Burkina Faso, Algeria. South Africa also qualify as hosts.

There is even a Fantasy game for those who want to while the winter hours away – bearing in mind we have two weekends without Premier League football next month, some may find this a welcome departure from domestic duties.

In terms of how this impacts on Premier League squads, here’s a breakdown of the first-team players who could be included in the tournament squads…

Arsenal: Emmanuel Frimpong (Ghana), Gervinho (Ivory Coast), Marouane Chamakh (Morocco)

Aston Villa: Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco)

Chelsea: John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses (Nigeria), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)

Everton: Victor Anichebe (Everton)

Fulham: Mahamadou Diarra (Mali)

Liverpool: Oussama Assaidi (Morocco)

Manchester City: Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

Newcastle United: Cheick Tiote (Ivory Coast), Shola Ameobi (Nigeria)

Queens Park Rangers: Samba Diakite (Mali), Adel Taarabt (Morocco)

Southampton: Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia)

West Bromwich Albion: Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria), Youssouf Mulumbu (DR Congo)

West Ham United: Modibo Maiga (Mali)

Wigan Athletic: Arouna Kone (Ivory Coast)

From a Fantasy perspective, then, Yaya Toure, Peter Odemwingie, Arouna Kone, Adel Taarabt, Gervinho and Victor Moses are the biggest names to depart. Toure’s absence from the City squad will be particularly felt, while Kone and Taarabt have both been mainstays for Wigan and QPR of late. Moses has come into the Chelsea reckoning since the installation of Rafa Benitez, though Odemwingie has occasionally found himself subject to Steve Clarke’s rotational whims at West Brom in recent weeks.

Recent News
Spurs’ attacking options took a turn for the better in recent weeks after Emmanuel Adebayor decided to suspend his career with Togo following a row over match bonuses. While Andre Villas-Boas was delighted with the forward’s decision, his comments suggest that he is not quite 100% over Adebayor’s availability, with the situation perhaps not yet cut and dried:

“At the moment we benefit from that situation. We’ll probably have the player here in January, which is a massive boost as you know, it gives me other options and possibilities. [He is] very very important, we are speaking about a player that has meant so much to us.”

Having been no more than a peripheral figure in the first few months of the season, Adebayor has now started the last three league games he has been available for, with a three-match ban for dangerous and foul play curtailing his game time between Gameweeks 13-15. Installed as Jermain Defoe’s strike partner in a 4-4-2, he seems to be finally settling under the new manager and may well yet gain our Fantasy attention if he can replicate even a fraction of the form that harvested 194 points under Harry Redknapp last time out.

Guy Demel’s Fantasy owners have also been boosted by the right-back’s decision to retire from Ivory Coast duties. Having lost his regular place to Joey O’Brien due to a hernia injury a couple of months ago, Demel has recently forced his way back into Sam Allardyce’s first XI and has now started each of the Hammers’ last three. With a strong schedule in January, Demel’s cut-price appeal may earn him further investment if he continues to nail down a starting berth under Allardyce, with a price of 4.0 in FPL particularly appealing.

Recent reports have suggested South Africa are looking coax Steven Pienaar out of international retirement. The Everton midfielder had quite his duties in order to concentrate on his club career earlier this year but the South Africa FA are not quite ready to write off his chances of appearing:

“I would say to [Steven Pienaar], he must remember that he came from the ghettos in South Africa and he became a national player because the South African FA identified him and developed him to be where he was. He would not have gone to England unless he had some international caps. I hope he is listening to me. My plea is for him to reconsider and join the national team.”

An about-turn from the midfielder would be a bitter blow to David Moyes’ first-team plans. Pienaar has started all but one of the Toffees’ league games so far and made a return to goalscoring ways in Sunday’s win over Spurs. Any possible absence may see Bryan Oviedo afforded a chance to impress on the left flank, though Pienaar himself has offered little indication he has been swayed by his nation’s attempts to bring him back on board.

How many Gameweeks will they miss?

The tournament begins in South Africa on January 19, with the final played out on February 10. This means that clubs will likely lose players from their squads from Gameweek 22, with some absent right up until Gameweek 27, although some players will be set to return for Gameweek 26 on February 9.

Some may even return prior the the Gameweek 25 fixtures on February 2 but the chances of them taking part in a Premier League match 48-hours after flying back from the group stages seem minimal.

In reality then, we’re looking at least five Gameweeks out for those involved – unless clubs can seek dispensation to keep their players for Gameweek 22 – one week before the tournament starts.

We’ll offer full confirmation of squads and absentees nearer the time in our ACON coverage.