African Nations - Will it affect Hull City?

With world cup qualifying completed last week that also means the final list of participants for the 2010 African Cup of Nations is also decided.

The bi-annual competition runs, despite protests from most European leagues, in January with the opening group games held on the 9th of January and the final on the 30th January.

16 nations compete in the competition, 15 have qualified due to their final standings in the world cup qualifying groups joined by the host Angola.

The top players for these African nations play predominantly in the Premiership or the French leagues, often linked to the African countries ex-colonial ties. This year however a number of African nations are competing for the first time, proving the huge growth in football in Africa and also the fact that the countries with less developed domestic leagues are catching up rapidly on more established African nations such as Cameroon or Nigeria.
Half of the countries competing have no premiership players within their squads: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Mozambique, Tunisia, Zambia

As for the premiership teams, only seven are not sending any players to the tournament, and interestingly those teams are in the top and bottom of the pile in terms of the Premiership: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Blackburn, Liverpool, Man United, West Ham, Wolves.

The biggest casualty appear to be Chelsea with four going missing: Essian (Ghana) Kalou & Drogba (Ivory Coast) and Mikel (Nigeria). If the transfer ban is upheld during this time too January could be interesting for them.

You`ve got to feel for David Moyes at Everton. He looses 3 Nigerians from his small squad, assuming they are fit: Yobo, Yakubu and Anichebe.

Pompey also loose three, with two Algerians (Belhadj & Yebda) and Kanu (Nigeria) playing.

Spurs and Man City come in next with two each. Man City loose two key players in Toure (Ivory Coast) and Adebayor (Togo) with Spurs loosing Ekotto and Bassong

Hull City have three players (at the moment) who are competing; Cousin, Ghilas and Olofinjana.

Cousin has captained his country in the last few outings and finished second in the world cup qualifying group which means he will not be going to the world cup.

If a new club has not been secured for him prior to the window opening then this may be a chance for him to show what he can still do for a team as every major European team will have scouts watching for sure. From Hull City`s point of view how do you move on a player who is absent for the whole of the January window? And is his participation hindering potential moves as he will obviously not be available in January?

Kamel Ghilas is on the fringes of his Algerian team, having not always made the bench in the world cup qualifiers. His situation at Hull City is about the same just now, but considering he may be missing for a month in January this may explain why Phil Brown is keen not to become too reliant on him at the moment. He could almost be like a new signing in February as he looks to boost his chances of being selected to the first team in the World Cup. Ghilas will be joined by two Portsmouth players, Belhadj and Yebda in the Algeria squad.

Interestingly that also probably means we will not be taking Egyptians like Zaki on loan in January following his outspoken comments this week about not being able to play with Algerians in the squad!

Olofinjana is the most experienced player in his Nigeria team and has not always been a favourite of the Nigerian fans who often question his selection. Nigeria has a very experienced and Premiership rich team with eight Nigerians currently plying their trade in the Premiership. Oli is probably going to be the most missed from the trio of City players flying off.

Written by Tigerette.

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