By Ibrahim Sannie BBC Sport, Accra

Mourinho wants a player deal for the African Nations Cup

Mourinho is set to lose five of his squad for the 2008 finals which take place in Ghana, in January.

Ivorians Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Ghana's Michael Essien, Nigeria's Mikel Jon Obi and Cameroon's Geremi should play at the event.

"Players should go straight to the game, not two weeks before," he said.

Interview: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

"We have to try to reach an agreement with the nations so clubs don't suffer too much when players leave."

Fifa, football's world governing body, has rules that state clubs must release players at least 14 days ahead of an international tournament.

"The players will only be training two weeks before the Nations Cup, while we will be playing crucial matches in Premiership at that time of the season," Mourinho told BBC Sport in Accra, where he is on a charity tour.

"There is no need to fight the federations because they have the backing of Fifa.

"But if we cannot co-operate with the African federation over this problem I think I will not sign any more African players because we compound our own problems."

However Mourinho insists that he will not prevent any of his African players form playing in the Nations Cup next year.

"It is the pride of my African players to play for their countries and I will not prevent them.