Which English Premier League Team Is Most Affected by the African Cup of Nations?

It’s African Cup of Nations roster deadline today, with teams submitting their final squads of 23 for the tournament. We’ll get a full roundup of all the squads later, but first - just this once - let’s spare a thought for the English Premier League teams and their managers.

The likes of Harry Redknapp (pictured) Avram Grant and David Moyes have done all kinds of complaining about the African Cup of Nations in recent weeks., and though the general consensus on World Cup Blog is that they all knew the AFCON was coming so they should all stop complaining, just for today we’ll see it from a Premiership perspective and ponder which Premier League team is worst affected by the tournament. Complete list of players called up by their national teams after the jump.

Seems Chelsea, Newcastle and Portsmouth are worst affected with four players each, but it’s really about quality as well as quantity. I’d be tempted to argue that Chelsea are most affected because two of the four players they’re losing are amongst the best in the world. But Chelsea can also afford to bring in reinforcements. Newcastle are a mess anyway right now, so it’s not as if these AFCON callups are going to derail a successful season. So my pick for worst affected is between Portsmouth and Readings. Portsmouth have lost more players (four to Reading’s three) and better quality players, but Reading will have been caught off guard by uncapped Ibrahima Sonko’s surprise call up to the Senegal squad, and don’t have money to go out and get replacements at the drop of a hat. The complete list as follows:

Arsenal - 3
Kolo Toure (Cote d’Ivoire)
Emmanuel Eboue (Cote d’Ivoire)
Alex Song (Cameroon)

Aston Villa - 0

Blackburn - 1
Aaron Mokoena (South Africa)

Birmingham - 3
Richard Kingson (Ghana)
Mehdi Nafti (Tunisia)
Radhi Jaidi (Tunisia)

Bolton - 2
El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
Abdoule Meite (Cote d’Ivoire)

Chelsea - 4
Michael Essien (Ghana)
Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire)
Salomon Kalou (Cote d’Ivoire)
John Obi Mikel (Nigeia)

Derby - 0

Everton
Josph Yobo (Nigeria)
Ayegbeni Yakubu (Nigeria)
Steven Pienaar (South Africa)

Fulham - 1
Diomansy Kamara (Senegal)

Liverpool - 2
Momo Sissoko (Mali)
Nabil El Zhar (Morocco)

Man Utd - 1 (sort of)
Manuco Goncalves (Angola) doesn’t join Man Utd until after the AFCON

Man City - 0
Middlesbrough - 1
Mohammed Shawky (Egypt)

Newcastle - 4
Geremi (Cameroon)
Obafemi Martins (Nigeria)
Habib Beye (Senegal)
Abdoulaye Faye (Senegal)

Portsmouth - 4
John Utaka (Nigeria)
Sulley Muntari (Ghana)
Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal)
Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)

Reading - 3
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)
Andre Bikey (Cameroon)
Ibrahima Sonko (Senegal)

Sunderland - 1
Dickson Etuhu (Nigeria)

Tottenham - 1
Didier Zokora (Cote d’Ivoire)

West Ham - 2
John Pantsil (Ghana)
Henri Camara (Senegal)

Wigan - 2
Solomon Olembe (Cameroon)
Julius Aghahowa (Nigeria)

If any of this is incorrect just leave a comment and let me know.

So what do you think? Which Premier League team is hit hardest by the African Cup of Nations?

And I’m hoping someone out there will answer “who cares!”