Nabil Hassan

Nabil Hassan

The Premier League is set for a mass exodus to Ghana with the Africa Cup of Nations just around the corner.

Ghana hosts the 2008 tournament which runs from January 20 to February 10, with holders Egypt looking to retain their crown.

Around 40 Premier League players could leave the domestic season in England to link up with their national team.

Portsmouth could be most affected with five of Harry Redknapp's squad likely to be called up for national duty.

Chelsea will also be heavily burdened by the competition with four members of Avram Grant's squad set to fly out to Ghana.

Egypt won the tournament in 2006, beating the Ivory Coast on penalties and Middlesbrough could lose Mohamed Shawky and Mido to the holders.

The exodus could spark much activity in the January transfer window with Redknapp and Grant already stating that they are likely to bring in fresh faces to cover for the players heading out to Ghana.

Only four Premier League clubs (Aston Villa, Derby County, Fulham and Manchester City) are not affected by the tournament.

Premier League players likely to be playing in the 2008 African Nations Cup:

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)

Manchester United

Manucho (Angola)

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)

2008 Afcon groups:

Group A: Ghana, Namibia, Guinea, Morocco

Group B: Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Ivory Coast

Group C: Egypt, Sudan, Zambia, Cameroon

Group D: Tunisia, Angola, South Africa, Senegal. - BBC