Africa Cup of Nations call hits Wolves and Albion hard

Wolves and Albion both face losing star players for more than a month of the season because of the Africa Cup of Nations.

moreWolves and Albion both face losing star players for more than a month of the season because of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu and Wolves duo Tongo Doumbia and Razak Boukari are all gearing up for the first legs of their final qualifying ties tomorrow.

And the trio, plus Baggies striker Peter Odemwingie, could all be absent from their clubs for several weeks if their nations reach the finals in South Africa in January and February. Mulumbu will end his international retirement when he lines up for DR Congo in the first leg of their play-off against Equatorial Guinea in Kinshasa tomorrow.

Doumbia's Mali will take on Botswana in Bamako with Boukari's Togo travelling to Libreville to face Gabon.

Doumbia has two caps for Mali and was included in their squad for their last competitive games, World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Algeria in June.

Boukari, who has appeared 11 times for Togo, made the party for their World Cup qualifier against Libya.

Odemwingie is missing Nigeria's first leg against Liberia in Paynesville but remains in the frame for the finals, which will run from January 19 until February 10. The second legs of all the ties will take place between October 12 and 14.

With players expected to report for duty ahead of the tournament for training, they could miss up to five league games for their clubs as well as the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Wolves could even be missing a third player after Mali approached Bakary Sako recently. The French winger has played for France's Under-21 team but qualifies for Mali as both his parents are from there.

Mali are on a mission to recruit bi-nationally qualified players and just days before Sako joined Wolves, Mali coach Patrice Carteron talked to the 24-year-old at Saint Etienne's training ground, although no decision has been announced.

Mulumbu, who is back in international action a year after announcing his retirement, said: "Unfortunately, if we qualify for the African Nations Cup in South Africa I will miss around a month of the Premier League season."

The Baggies midfielder has settled his differences with the DR Congo authorities.