African Cup of Nations
January 8, 2010
But for those who will be lacing up their boots for competitive action while their colleagues are enjoying less strenuous activity, it will not only be a pleasure but a privilege.
The African Cup of Nations kicks off in Angola on January 10 and will run until the end of the month. For those players leaving the snowy fields of Germany behind to compete for the countries in the heat of south-central Africa, this means that they will miss at least three Bundesliga matches.
The league returns to action on the 15th and some African stars may be absent for as many as four games, with travel and rest factored in. The nightmare scenario for clubs fighting for the title and to avoid relegation is that their African players return from Angola injured.
While the Bundesliga will not suffer from the departure of African stars to the same extent as the English Premiership, La Liga in Spain and Italy's Serie A, a number of high-profile players will be missing from teams with still a lot to play for.
Nigeria's assault on the Africa title is likely to have the most impact on the Bundesliga as the Super Eagles are likely to call up Wolfsburg striker Obafemi Martins and Hoffenheim forward Chinedo Obasi.
Super Eagles claim Bundesliga strikers
Both Martins and Obasi have hit five goals for their teams this season and while they both play second fiddle to more prolific European colleagues in their respective attacks, they will undoubtedly be missed.
Wolfsburg, hoping to retain their Bundelsiga title, will hope that Nigerian Martins returns with all cylinders pumping in case Edin Dzeko picks up a knock, while Hoffenheim will look forward to Obasi partnering Vedad Ibisevic as they look to secure European soccer for next season.
Hoffenheim could also lose defender Isaac Vorsah and squad member Prince Tagoe, although their call-ups are not certain as neither have yet to make their debuts for Ghana. Wolfsburg's Karim Ziani is also likely to be included in the 1990 champions Algeria's squad.
Borussia Dortmund may feel the absence of Mohamed Zidan as the Egypt striker swaps BVB's enjoyable spell in the upper echelons of the Bundesliga for his country's African Cup title defense.
The reigning champions will call on the BVB attacker to lead their line, depriving Dortmund of a first team regular. Zidan has only missed one game all season and although his goal return is not great, his partnership and understanding with the more prolific Lucas Barrios has been an important ingredient in Dortmund's current renaissance.
One of the favorites to take the African title from Egypt – Ivory Coast – will claim Stuttgart's Arthur Boka, Hamburg's Guy Demel and Constant Djakpa from Hanover.
Hamburg's Demel leaves defense for Ivory Coast campaign
Demel's departure may be a blow for Hamburg as they look to shore up their defense in a bid to get their title challenge back on track. Demel has been a consistent performer this season in the Hamburg back four, missing just three games this season. With Hamburg just four points off the Bundesliga summit, the North German team will hope that its defense can remain solid until Demel returns.
Boka has featured 12 times for Stuttgart this season and while not an irreplaceable member of the team, his consistency in the back four will be missed. Coach Christian Gross will hope that Boka returns from Angola in the same rhythm.
Djakpa has settled into a consistent and first choice position in Hanover 96's defense, and will certainly leave a tangible gap as his team fights to avoid being dragged into a relegation fight in the second half of the season.
Table-topping Leverkusen to miss squad players only
League leaders Bayer Leverkusen will be keeping an eye on how defender Hans Sarpei gets on while he's away with Ghana, another of the favored teams for the title. Sarpei is more of a squad player at Leverkusen these days, playing in seven of the first 17 games so far, but should injuries start to bite as Bayer's title charge rolls on, he may be called into action as cover. Bayer bosses will be hoping that their strong tackler is well looked after at the African Cup of Nations – just in case.
Leverkusen will also be losing another squad player in Assimiou Touré, the young Togo defender.
Elsewhere, Aristide Bancé of Mainz and Kaiserslautern's Moussa Ouattara are likely to join up with the Burkina Faso squad, while Algerians Anthar Yahia (VfL Bochum) and Karim Matmour (Borussia Moenchengladbach) will be spending the winter break in sunnier climes.
Author: Nick Amies
Editor: Susan Houlton