AFRICAN PLAYERS IN THE EPL WHO ARE GOING/MISSING THE ANC
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AFRICAN PLAYERS IN THE EPL WHO ARE GOING/MISSING THE ANC
The Tunisia exodus
With the African Cup of Nations causing a series of club v country debates, BBC Sport runs down the England-based players who could be heading to Tunisia for the tournament, which runs from 24 January - 14 February.
Okocha is going despite Bolton's protests
Definitely going
Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
Okocha: Nigeria is my duty
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has fought tooth and nail to keep the inspirational midfielder at the club, but Okocha looks set to link up with the Nigeria squad.
Frederic Kanoute (Mali)
Kanoute cleared for Mali
Kanoute stunned Spurs by announcing that he wanted to play for the country of his parents' birth. Despite Tottenham's best efforts to dissuade him, Kanoute no looks certain to travel.
Kanu (Nigeria)
Arsenal block Kanu call-up
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reluctantly allowed Kanu to join the Nigeria squad - but he will travel at the last possible moment, missing a pre-tournament training camp.
Joseph Yobo (Nigeria)
Defender Yobo's absence could not come at a worse time for Everton boss David Moyes, who is without Alessandro Pistone through injury while the unsettled David Unsworth could leave in the January transfer window.
Celestine Babayaro (Nigeria)
Babayaro has lost his place at Chelsea to Wayne Bridge and may welcome a run of games in Tunisia - if he makes the final Nigeria squad.
Geremi (Cameroon)
The Chelsea midfielder looks set to be a key player for defending champions Cameroon.
Eric Djemba-Djemba (Cameroon)
The Manchester United summer signing was involved for Cameroon in November and looks set for a call-up to the African Nations Cup.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Nigeria)
Portsmouth's squad is already stretched by injuries and the absence of striker Yakubu will not help boss Harry Redknapp's mood.
El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
Like Kanu, Senegal's Diouf has been told by Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier that he will not be released from club duty until the New Year.
Salif Diao (Senegal)
Diao hit by injury
Liverpool's other Senegal midfielder will travel to Tunisia for the tournament - but only if he recovers from an ankle injury in time.
Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Cisse has not been a regular for Birmingham this season and will miss a further month when he joins the Senegal squad.
Henri Camara (Senegal)
Premiership strugglers Wolves look likely to lose striker Camara to Senegal.
Lamine Sakho (Senegal)
Sakho, one of Peter Reid's summer loan signings, has not proved popular with Leeds caretaker boss Eddie Gray but is likely to join up with Senegal in January.
Salomon Olembe (Cameroon)
Olembe also joined Leeds on loan in the summer, but he too has not played under Eddie Gray and would welcome a call-up for Cameroon.
Mbulelo Mabizela (South Africa)
Tottenham's Mabizela has been named in South Africa's squad for the tournament but since the 23-year-old is yet to break into the Spurs first team, he should not be too sorely missed.
Peter Ndlovu (Zimbabwe)
Sheffield United striker Ndlovu is Zimbabwe's captain and considered retirement earlier this year but looks set to stay on for one last tilt at the African Cup of Nations.
George Koumantarakis is in South Africa's squad despite not having played for Preston since March, when he underwent knee surgery, while Gillingham's Mamady Sidibe will represent Mali.
Peterborough defender Ogbonna Kanu has been named in Nigeria's provisional squad, as has Mansfield's George Abbey.
Wolves' Isaac Okoronkwo, who is yet to make his Premiership debut, joins them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undecided
Lomana Tresor Lua Lua (DR Congo)
Congo have yet to name their squad, but Newcastle boss Bobby Robson is likely to try and dissuade Lua Lua from travelling, with strikers Craig Bellamy and Shola Amoebi injured.
Shola Amoebi (Nigeria?)
Newcastle's Amoebi finds himself in a similar position to Kanoute - he has played for England at Under-21 level but could still play for Nigeria under new Fifa regulations which come into effect in the New Year.
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Staying in England
Fortune has fallen out with the current South Africa manager
Quinton Fortune (South Africa)
South Africa name squad
The Manchester United midfielder was not picked for South Africa's squad after upsetting the manager by skipping international commitments earlier in the year.
Lauren (Cameroon)
The 26-year-old Arsenal defender retired from international football in June 2002.
Shaun Bartlett (South Africa)
Bartlett quits South Africa
Bartlett retired from international football in October in a bid to secure his future at Charlton.
Lucas Radebe (South Africa)
The Leeds defender, who likely would have been ruled out anyway with injury, retired from international football in May.
Amdy Faye (Senegal)
The Portsmouth midfielder was a shock absentee from the Senegal squad - a niggling knee injury thought to be behind the decision
Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast)
Arsenal boss Wenger will be pleased the Ivory Coast failed to qualify for the tournament, meaning in-form Toure is going nowhere.
Mark Fish (South Africa)
Charlton's Fish received a surprise call-up to South Africa's squad after an absence of nearly three years, but turned the offer down because he was not given permission to join up with the squad late.
With the African Cup of Nations causing a series of club v country debates, BBC Sport runs down the England-based players who could be heading to Tunisia for the tournament, which runs from 24 January - 14 February.
Okocha is going despite Bolton's protests
Definitely going
Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
Okocha: Nigeria is my duty
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has fought tooth and nail to keep the inspirational midfielder at the club, but Okocha looks set to link up with the Nigeria squad.
Frederic Kanoute (Mali)
Kanoute cleared for Mali
Kanoute stunned Spurs by announcing that he wanted to play for the country of his parents' birth. Despite Tottenham's best efforts to dissuade him, Kanoute no looks certain to travel.
Kanu (Nigeria)
Arsenal block Kanu call-up
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reluctantly allowed Kanu to join the Nigeria squad - but he will travel at the last possible moment, missing a pre-tournament training camp.
Joseph Yobo (Nigeria)
Defender Yobo's absence could not come at a worse time for Everton boss David Moyes, who is without Alessandro Pistone through injury while the unsettled David Unsworth could leave in the January transfer window.
Celestine Babayaro (Nigeria)
Babayaro has lost his place at Chelsea to Wayne Bridge and may welcome a run of games in Tunisia - if he makes the final Nigeria squad.
Geremi (Cameroon)
The Chelsea midfielder looks set to be a key player for defending champions Cameroon.
Eric Djemba-Djemba (Cameroon)
The Manchester United summer signing was involved for Cameroon in November and looks set for a call-up to the African Nations Cup.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Nigeria)
Portsmouth's squad is already stretched by injuries and the absence of striker Yakubu will not help boss Harry Redknapp's mood.
El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
Like Kanu, Senegal's Diouf has been told by Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier that he will not be released from club duty until the New Year.
Salif Diao (Senegal)
Diao hit by injury
Liverpool's other Senegal midfielder will travel to Tunisia for the tournament - but only if he recovers from an ankle injury in time.
Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Cisse has not been a regular for Birmingham this season and will miss a further month when he joins the Senegal squad.
Henri Camara (Senegal)
Premiership strugglers Wolves look likely to lose striker Camara to Senegal.
Lamine Sakho (Senegal)
Sakho, one of Peter Reid's summer loan signings, has not proved popular with Leeds caretaker boss Eddie Gray but is likely to join up with Senegal in January.
Salomon Olembe (Cameroon)
Olembe also joined Leeds on loan in the summer, but he too has not played under Eddie Gray and would welcome a call-up for Cameroon.
Mbulelo Mabizela (South Africa)
Tottenham's Mabizela has been named in South Africa's squad for the tournament but since the 23-year-old is yet to break into the Spurs first team, he should not be too sorely missed.
Peter Ndlovu (Zimbabwe)
Sheffield United striker Ndlovu is Zimbabwe's captain and considered retirement earlier this year but looks set to stay on for one last tilt at the African Cup of Nations.
George Koumantarakis is in South Africa's squad despite not having played for Preston since March, when he underwent knee surgery, while Gillingham's Mamady Sidibe will represent Mali.
Peterborough defender Ogbonna Kanu has been named in Nigeria's provisional squad, as has Mansfield's George Abbey.
Wolves' Isaac Okoronkwo, who is yet to make his Premiership debut, joins them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undecided
Lomana Tresor Lua Lua (DR Congo)
Congo have yet to name their squad, but Newcastle boss Bobby Robson is likely to try and dissuade Lua Lua from travelling, with strikers Craig Bellamy and Shola Amoebi injured.
Shola Amoebi (Nigeria?)
Newcastle's Amoebi finds himself in a similar position to Kanoute - he has played for England at Under-21 level but could still play for Nigeria under new Fifa regulations which come into effect in the New Year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staying in England
Fortune has fallen out with the current South Africa manager
Quinton Fortune (South Africa)
South Africa name squad
The Manchester United midfielder was not picked for South Africa's squad after upsetting the manager by skipping international commitments earlier in the year.
Lauren (Cameroon)
The 26-year-old Arsenal defender retired from international football in June 2002.
Shaun Bartlett (South Africa)
Bartlett quits South Africa
Bartlett retired from international football in October in a bid to secure his future at Charlton.
Lucas Radebe (South Africa)
The Leeds defender, who likely would have been ruled out anyway with injury, retired from international football in May.
Amdy Faye (Senegal)
The Portsmouth midfielder was a shock absentee from the Senegal squad - a niggling knee injury thought to be behind the decision
Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast)
Arsenal boss Wenger will be pleased the Ivory Coast failed to qualify for the tournament, meaning in-form Toure is going nowhere.
Mark Fish (South Africa)
Charlton's Fish received a surprise call-up to South Africa's squad after an absence of nearly three years, but turned the offer down because he was not given permission to join up with the squad late.
Last edited by ukblack on Thu Jan 08, 2004 7:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
