More Hit Out at African Cup of Nations Scheduling

The chorus of people against the African Cup of Nations schedule continues to grow.

Today, a significant article in the BBC about the wave of African players leaving English shores for the Cup come mid-January.

Portsmouth assistant manager Joe Jordan made it clear what he wants.

"I don't know all the arguments behind staging it at that time, but from our point of view a switch to a summer date would suit us," Jordan told BBC Sport.

"It would benefit a lot of clubs with African players and give the players and coaches more time to prepare."

The Cup is traditionally staged in the first two months of the year because of the continent's unpredictable weather conditions in the summer months.

The rainy season hits western and central Africa in June and July, while the weather in South Africa, which will be hosting the 2010 World Cup in those two months, is usually cool.

Former Chelsea striker and BBC Sport's Gavin Peacock has little sympathy for those clubs affected by the loss of African players for the 2008 tournament, which will be staged in Ghana from January 20 to February 10.

"They know when they sign African players every two years a large proportion of them will be missing," Peacock told BBC Sport. "I'm sure if it could have been switched, they'd have done it by now. The tournament needs to benefit African football, not European football and if that means it's played in January and February then it needs to be played then."

Good statement. To read the full article, please click the link above.
Below, a list of African players in England about to leave for the Cup in Ghana. Extensive list.

ARSENAL
Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Alexandre Song (Cameroon)

BIRMINGHAM
Richard Kingson (Ghana), Mehdi Nafti and Radhi Jaidi (Tunisia)

BLACKBURN
Aaron Mokoena (South Africa)

BOLTON
El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal), Abdoulaye Meite (Ivory Coast)

CHELSEA
John Obi Mikel (Nigeria), Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana)

EVERTON
Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu (Nigeria), Steven Pienaar (South Africa)

LIVERPOOL
Nabil El-Zhar (Morocco), Muhammed Sissoko (Mali)

MIDDLESBROUGH
Mohamed Shawky and Mido (Egypt)

NEWCASTLE
Obafemi Martins (Nigeria), Geremi (Cameroon), Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye (Senegal)

PORTSMOUTH
Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal), Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka (Nigeria), Sulley Muntari (Ghana), Lauren (Cameroon)

READING
Andre Bikey (Cameroon), Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast), Ibrahima Sonko (Senegal)

SUNDERLAND
Dickson Etuhu (Nigeria)

TOTTENHAM
Hossam Ghaly (Egypt), Didier Zokora (Ivory Coast)

WEST HAM UNITED
John Pantsil (Ghana), Henri Camara (Senegal)

WIGAN
Salomon Olembe (Cameroon), Julius Aghahowa (Nigeria)