With the African Cup of Nations reopening the club v country issue, BBC Sport spotlights the England-based players who are heading to Tunisia for the tournament, which runs from 24 January to 14 February.  Okocha is going despite Bolton's protests |
Definitely goingJay Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce fought to keep the inspirational midfielder, but Okocha will link up with the Nigeria squad after starring in his club's Carling Cup win over Aston Villa. Frederic Kanoute (Mali)
Kanoute stunned Spurs by announcing that he wanted to play for the country of his parents' birth. Despite Tottenham's best efforts to dissuade him, Kanoute was determined to play in Tunisia. Kanu (Nigeria)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reluctantly allowed Kanu to join the Nigeria squad - but the player missed a pre-tournament training camp. Joseph Yobo (Nigeria)
Defender Yobo's absence could not come at a worse time for Everton boss David Moyes, who is without Alessandro Pistone through injury while the unsettled David Unsworth could leave in the January transfer window.
Celestine Babayaro (Nigeria)
Babayaro has lost his place at Chelsea to Wayne Bridge and may welcome a run of games in Tunisia.
Geremi (Cameroon)
The Chelsea midfielder looks set to be a key player for defending champions Cameroon.
Eric Djemba-Djemba (Cameroon)
The Manchester United summer signing was involved for Cameroon in November and earned a call-up to the African Cup of Nations.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Nigeria)
Portsmouth's squad is already stretched by injuries and the absence of striker Yakubu will not help boss Harry Redknapp's mood.
El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
Like Kanu, Senegal's Diouf was told by Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier he could not travel until the New Year.
Salif Diao (Senegal)
Liverpool's other Senegal midfielder travels to Tunisia for the tournament - but has been struggling with an ankle injury. Lomana Tresor Lua Lua (DR Congo)
Capped eight times by his country, Lua Lua only confirmed his attendance 11 days before the start of the tournament.
Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Cisse has not been a regular for Birmingham this season and will miss a further month when he joins the Senegal squad.
Henri Camara (Senegal)
Premiership strugglers Wolves must do without striker Camara.
Lamine Sakho (Senegal)
Sakho, one of Peter Reid's summer loan signings, has not proved popular with Leeds caretaker boss Eddie Gray.
Salomon Olembe (Cameroon)
Olembe also joined Leeds on loan in the summer, but he too has not played under Eddie Gray. He was a member of the 2002 trophy-winning Cameroon squad.
Mbulelo Mabizela (South Africa)
Tottenham's Mabizela has been named in South Africa's squad for the tournament but since the 23-year-old is yet to break into the Spurs first team, he should not be too sorely missed.
Peter Ndlovu (Zimbabwe)
Sheffield United striker Ndlovu is Zimbabwe's captain and considered retirement earlier this year but stays on for one last tilt at the African Cup of Nations.
Peterborough defender Ogbonna Kanu has been named in Nigeria's provisional squad, as has Mansfield's George Abbey.
Wolves' Isaac Okoronkwo, who is yet to make his Premiership debut, joins them, while Gillingham's Mamady Sidibe will represent Mali.
Staying in England
 Fortune is out of favour |
Quinton Fortune
(South Africa)
The Manchester United midfielder was not picked for South Africa's squad after upsetting the manager by skipping international commitments earlier in the year. Lauren (Cameroon)
The 26-year-old Arsenal defender retired from international football in June 2002.
Shaun Bartlett (South Africa)
Bartlett retired from international football in October in a bid to secure his future at Charlton. Lucas Radebe (South Africa)
The Leeds defender, who likely would have been ruled out anyway with injury, retired from international football in May.
Amdy Faye (Senegal)
The Portsmouth midfielder was a shock absentee from the Senegal squad - a niggling knee injury thought to be behind the decision
Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast)
Arsenal boss Wenger will be pleased the Ivory Coast failed to qualify for the tournament, meaning in-form Toure is going nowhere.
Mark Fish (South Africa)
Charlton's Fish received a surprise call-up to South Africa's squad after an absence of nearly three years, but turned the offer down because he was not given permission to join up with the squad late.
George Koumantarakis (South Africa)
The Preston striker marked his first start for 10 months with a goal against Reading but was left out of the South Africa squad. Guylain Ndumbu Nsungu (DR Congo)
The Sheffield Wednesday striker, who is on loan from French side Amiens until the end of the season, is on stand-by if any of the DR Congo strikers get injured.
MMIX
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