By Nabil Hassan

2008 African Nations Cup GROUP A: Ghana, Namibia, Guinea, Morocco GROUP B: Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Ivory Coast GROUP C: Egypt, Sudan, Zambia, Cameroon GROUP D: Tunisia, Angola, South Africa, Senegal

The Premier League is set for a mass exodus to Ghana with the African Cup of Nations just around the corner.

Ghana hosts the 2008 tournament which runs from 20 January - 10 February, with holders Egypt looking to retain their crown.

Around 40 Premier League players could leave the domestic season in England to link up with their national team.

Portsmouth could be most affected with five of Harry Redknapp's squad likely to be called up for national duty.

Chelsea will also be heavily burdened by the competition with four members of Avram Grant's squad set to fly out to Ghana.

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Egypt won the tournament in 2006, beating the Ivory Coast on penalties and Middlesbrough could lose Mohamed Shawky and Mido to the holders.

The exodus could spark much activity in the January transfer window with Redknapp and Grant already stating that they are likely to bring in fresh faces to cover for the players heading out to Ghana.

Only four Premier League clubs (Aston Villa, Derby County, Fulham and Manchester City) are not affected by the tournament.

Premier League players likely to be playing in the 2008 African Nations Cup:

Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Alexandre Song (Cameroon)

Richard Kingson (Ghana), Mehdi Nafti and Radhi Jaidi (Tunisia)

Aaron Mokoena (South Africa)

El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal), Abdoulaye Meite (Ivory Coast)

John Obi Mikel (Nigeria), Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana)

Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu (Nigeria), Steven Pienaar (South Africa)

Diomansy Kamara (Senegal)

Nabil El-Zhar (Morocco), Muhammed Sissoko (Mali)

Manucho (Angola)*

Mohamed Shawky and Mido (Egypt)

Obafemi Martins (Nigeria), Geremi (Cameroon), Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye (Senegal)

Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal), Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka (Nigeria), Sulley Muntari (Ghana), Lauren (Cameroon)

Andre Bikey (Cameroon), Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast), Ibrahima Sonko (Senegal)

Dickson Etuhu (Nigeria)

Hossam Ghaly (Egypt), Didier Zokora (Ivory Coast)

John Pantsil (Ghana), Henri Camara (Senegal)

Salomon Olembe (Cameroon), Julius Aghahowa (Nigeria)

• Aston Villa, Derby County, Fulham, Manchester City currently have no involvement in the African Nations Cup.