Preamier League To Sorely Miss African Talent

Last night Didier Drogba showed what an asset he is to Chelsea. Currently the second best centre-forward in the Premier League after Fernando Torres, he was magnificent away at Atletico Madrid, personally securing Chelsea’s qualification to the knock-out stage of the Champions League with two typically robust, muscular goals.

It was apt pay-back for the suspension he earned himself with his comedy performance after last season’s semi-final. And it was a reminder to every Chelsea supporter - not to mention their manager Carlo Ancelotti - of what they will miss come the middle of January.

The final round of qualification takes place next week to decide the last four of the 16 teams to compete in the African Cup of Nations. The draw follows in Luanda on 20 November. And the first games kick off across Angola on January 10, 2010. But for Chelsea fans, whether Ivory Coast can avoid Cameroon in the first round group stage or whether Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt can continue the north African domination of the competition is not the principal issue.

It is the fact that they will be missing their talismanic striker for potentially three weeks at a cruicial stage of the domestic season. Should Drogba carry his impressive form in Madrid to the tournament and propel his country into the final, he will be absent from Stamford Bridge from January 10-31. That means he will not be available to terrorise the defences of Sunderland, Birmingham and Burnley in the Premier League, plus whomever the club draw in the third round of the FA Cup. And these are precisely the sort of games Chelsea need to win to secure silverware.

Not that Drogba is the only one who will be missing from action. The 12 nations who have already qualified will be accounting for the following Premier League players: Read the rest of this entry »