As Africa’s biggest football show piece, The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicked off in Gabon yesterday, 14^th January 2017, there are a host of stars who ply their trade in the English Premier League taking part in the tournament.

There are a total of thirty players from 15 English Premier League clubs.

Reigning champions, Leicester City and Sunderland jointly share the biggest number, 4 apiece.

The legion has the Algerian duo of Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani who both play for Algeria Desert Foxes and Ghana Black Stars’ Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey.

Sunderland quartet includes; Didier Ndong (Gabon), Lamine Kone (Ivory Coast), Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia) and Papy Djilobodji (Senegal).

West Ham United and Stoke City closely follow with three players apiece on their ranks.

Everton, Bournemouth, Hull City and Watford have two players each.

Manchester United, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, West Bromich Albion, Middleborough and Southampton have one player each.

There has been a vibrant club versus country war for many European based players.

Most players preferred to represent their countries at the biannual event with others opting to stay with their respective clubs.

English Premier Clubs with players at AFCON 2017

Arsenal – Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)

Bournemouth – Benik Afobe (DR Congo), Max Gradel (Ivory Coast)

Crystal Palace – Bakary Sako (Mali)

Everton – Idrissa Gueye (Senegal), Oumar Niasse (Senegal)

Hull City – Dieumerci Mbokani (DR Congo), Ahmed Elmohamady (Egypt)

Leicester: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Islam Slimani (Algeria), Jeffrey Schlupp (Ghana), Daniel Amartey (Ghana)

Liverpool – Sadio Mane (Senegal)

Manchester United – Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)

Middlesbrough – Adama Traore (Mali)

Southampton – Sofiane Boufal (Morocco)

Stoke City – Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast), Mame Biram Diouf (Senegal), Ramadan Sobhi (Egypt)

Sunderland – Didier Ndong (Gabon), Lamine Kone (Ivory Coast), Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia), Papy Djilobodji (Senegal)

Watford – Nordin Amrabat (Morocco), Adlene Guedioura (Algeria)

West Bromwich Albion – Allan Nyom (Cameroon)

West Ham United – Diafra Sakho (Senegal), Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal), Andre Ayew (Ghana)