African Nations Poser

Last updated : 04 December 2007 By Jim Bonner
Pompey will be the hardest hit club come the African Nations Cup in January. This piece details who will be leaving, how long for and when we could expect them back.

Pompey will be missing the following players when the tournament in Ghana begins:

Sulley Muntari (Ghana)
Kanu (Nigeria)
John Utaka (Nigeria)
Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal)
Djimi Traore (Mali)

So that's two of our most important midfielders gone, our only "right winger" gone, our top scorer of last season gone and our third choice left back gone (if he is called up).

The tournament takes place from January 20th to February 10th, meaning that Pompey's African stars will definitely miss the home game with Derby and a potential FA Cup fourth round tie.

It is also very likely that most of our players could be missing for the home game against Chelsea and away trips to Bolton and Manchester United. The home nations have a good record historically in this competition so I expect Muntari to be away for that time, whilst Nigeria and Senegal will fancy their chances too.

Nigeria coach Berti Vogts has arranged a 14 day pre-training schedule before the tournament. This means that Kanu and Utaka could also miss the FA Cup tie at Ipswich and the league game at Sunderland. Peter Storrie has said that Pompey are not obliged to release the players though, and he will fight Vogts' plans all the way.

Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp has said that he will have to loan players from wherever he can to compensate for the loss of the Africans. He has also said that Matthew Taylor can leave if he wants and if the price is right.

Like many other Pompey fans, I don't want Matty to leave and I think that selling him would be a stupid decision with our lack of players who can play on the flank.

Harry says that he can't play Taylor at the moment because Niko Kranjcar is playing too well. Why can't he play Kranjcar elsewhere and then put Taylor on the left? We are certainly going to need a player of Matt's quality available when the African Nations Cup begins, so we'd be silly to let him go.

We shall have to see what Harry can conjure up in January. If there's one thing I've learnt about controversial decisions over signings and letting players leave, then its to never doubt the gaffer.