Balls.ie takes a look at the Premier League players at AFCON 2017 as the tournament adds an extra level of intrigue to global football every two years.
In total, 23 Premier League players will swap club colours for their countries come January 14th. Leicester, Sunderland, Stoke, Watford and West Ham will suffer the most as each team is set to lose three players. The most notable (temporary) exiles are Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mané.
Chelsea are the beneficiaries of Nigeria's shortcomings as they failed to qualify for a second successive competition, allowing the in-form Victor Moses to remain in London. Burnley, Manchester City, West Brom, Middlesbrough, Swansea and Tottenham won't be affected by the Africa Cup of Nations either.
Reigning champions Ivory Coast can breathe a sigh of relief following their success in Equatorial Guinea two years ago but they will aim to be challenging for the trophy once again despite an aging team. However, Sadio Mané's Senegal are the top ranked team entering the competition and will look to the bring silverware to Dakar for the first time in the countries history.
Hosts Gabon are viewed as the 'dark horses' of the competition largely due to the fact that they have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Didier N'Dong at their disposal.
All games will be broadcast live in Ireland and the United Kingdom on Eurosport 1, 2 & Player.
Premier League Players At AFCON 2017:
Arsenal
Ismael Bennacer (Algeria) & Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)
Bournemouth
Max Gradel (Ivory Coast)
Crystal Palace
Bakary Sako (Mali) & Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)
Everton
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
Hull
Ahmed Elmohamedy (Egypt) & Dieumerci Mbokani (DR Congo)
Leicester City
Daniel Amarety (Ghana), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) & Islam Slimani (Algeria)
Liverpool
Sadio Mané (Senegal)
Manchester United
Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)
Southampton
Sofiane Boufal (Morocco)
Stoke
Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast), Mame Biram Diouf (Senegal) & Ramadan Sobhi (Egypt)
Sunderland
Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia), Lamine Koné (Ivory Coast) & Didier NDong (Gabon)
Watford
Nordin Amrabat (Morocco), Brice Dja Djedje (Ivory Coast) & Adlene Guedioura (Algeria)
West Ham
André Ayew (Ghana), Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria) & Cheikou Kouyate (Senegal)
Premier League players at AFCON 2017 in Gabon.
