The African Cup of Nations is just a couple of weeks away and Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor is already predicting a tough title challenge for Manchester City.

The Citizens are set to lose their most influential player of the season so far-Yaya Toure. Yaya who was also named as the African player of the Year 2011 has been in scintillating form for City helping them to a first place finish in the league for the first time in 82 years since Christmas 1929.

Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou's imminent January departure for the African Cup of Nations, along with the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chinese Super League Club Shanghai Shenhua has left manager André Villas-Boas facing a possibly head-scratching dilemma.

The loss of these three household names could force goal-shy Fernando Torres back in to the equation at Stamford Bridge, a move which some would consider a risk.

Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou's imminent January departure for the African Cup of Nations, along with the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chinese Super League Club Shanghai Shenhua has left manager André Villas-Boas facing a possibly head-scratching dilemma.

The loss of these three household names could force goal-shy Fernando Torres back in to the equation at Stamford Bridge, a move which some would consider a risk.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Mario Balotelli and Micah Richards were anything but all smiles in Thursday's training session.

The two Manchester City regulars were involved in a scuffle near the end of practice following a heated exchange of words. Richards had to be held back by fellow teammates when he attempted to continue the argument.

Not even one of the faces of African soccer is immune to punishment of the harshest kind.

The Cameroonian Football Federation banned captain and star forward Samuel Eto'o 15 matches for his role in a players' strike last month. Eto'o can appeal the punishment over the course of the next two weeks, but if it is upheld, the ban could signal the end of the 30-year-old Eto'o's international career, considering the length of the ban and the bad blood between player and federation.

Morocco will become the first African country to host the FIFA World Club Cup finals in 2013 and 2014 after a successful tournament in Japan this year. The tournament will however remain in Japan in 2012 before moving to the North African nation in 2013.

The world governing football body revealed that Morocco won the rights to host the tournament after the withdrawal of bidders South Africa, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

One of the more interesting rumors of the holiday season in Europe surrounds Thierry Henry's potential return to Arsenal on a short-term loan in January. Nobody at Arsenal is publicly admitting it is in the works (Arsene Wenger said he has yet decide whether to pursue it), and there is no guarantee that the New York Red Bulls would be willing to let their star player go on a loan, but the idea remains an intriguing one.

Given Arsene did his whole, 'I don't know what you're talking about routine', when questioned about the potential return of Thierry Henry in the press conference on Friday, I would be very surprised if we do not announce that we are re-signing Thierry on a two-month loan-deal very soon, probably in the first week of January.

Demba Ba has been a revelation on Tyneside this season. Demba Ba has been a revelation on Tyneside And Newcastle will shortly have to do without their number one goalscorer, as the Senegal International will soon head off to the African Cup of Nations. Alan Pardew was hoping to keep him at Newcastle until 15th January, and the tournament starts a week later, but the news [.

Demba Ba has been a revelation on Tyneside this season. Demba Ba has been a revelation on Tyneside And Newcastle will shortly have to do without their number one goalscorer, as the Senegal International will soon head off to the African Cup of Nations. Alan Pardew was hoping to keep him at Newcastle until 15th January, and the tournament starts a week later, but the news [.

The Arab Football Spring - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The performances of the North African national football sides in 2011 have reflected the political actions of the Arab Spring.

The failure of Egypt, the champions of the past three tournaments, to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations (ACN), alongside the absence of regional heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria, has thrown the tournament wide open.

The Arab Football Spring - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The performances of the North African national football sides in 2011 have reflected the political actions of the Arab Spring.

The failure of Egypt, the champions of the past three tournaments, to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations (ACN), alongside the absence of regional heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria, has thrown the tournament wide open.

With the expected arrival of Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga not now going to happen, the Newcastle manager has said today the Magpies will not be bringing in a new striker next month. Emerging folk hero Demba Ba will be off to African Cup of Nations soon Newcastle had worked since late August on agreeing a deal with Sochaux for Modibo Maiga, and a £6M transfer fee had [.

The 2012 African Cup Of Nations is set to begin on the 21st of January until the 12th of February, so we thought with not long to go it may be worthwhile figuring out which teams are going to be most affected by players departing for this competition.

Players Involved In The African Cup Of Nations

Starting with the teams at the top end of the Premier League, Biram Diouf of Senegal appears to be the only Manchester United player affected which isn't likely to affect the club much at all as he is probably their 6th choice striker.

So the far-fetched rumours are true, Thierry Henry will sensationally return to Arsenal as long as everything runs smoothly, with the move being confirmed by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. All that has to be finalised is an insurance package, incase Henry is to be injured during his return to the Premier League.

OK, so I'll admit I'm not in my most cheerful of moods. I've been absent for the better part of this week, trying to see some justice done here in Hood County, Texas. But alas, what I got instead was a heavy dose of injustice in the courtroom, if I may say so myself. I won't bore you all with the painful details, but what I really needed was 12 jurors from this soccer game in Portugal a few years ago:
Hopefully I can relax and blog a bit, and find my happy place again.

Chelsea's versatile winger/striker Salomon Kalou is being linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge as the January transfer window approaches. According to most newspapers in France, the Ivorian could end up at Paris St. Germain as the club continues to purchase stars from across Europe.

Kalou has previously been linked with a move to Marseille, but with PSG now cash-rich the former French giants could land the Ivory Coast star.

With the African Cup of Nations set to begin in about a months time, many Premier League clubs are already starting to prepare for the departure of their players, however, one club Manchester City are delaying the departure of Ivorian duo Yaya Toure and his brother Kolo.

According to the club, they have been granted a special allowance to delay the Toure's departure so that they can take part in the the FA Cup fixture against United and the First leg tie of the League Cup against Liverpool.

Raul Meireles has taken time out to speak of Didier Drogba this week and believes that he is key to Chelsea's challenge this season. The thing is I'm not 100% certain.
He said:

"Drogba is the key to this team, We need Didier and his goals. He scored twice against Valencia last week and another against Newcastle and both times he demonstrated his quality at the decisive moment.

Since Ju Young Park arrived from Monaco in August he has made less than a handful of appearances for Arsenal.
Now I understand there is always going to be a period of 'transition' for a player coming in from a different country, but at times I wonder whether Park is actually real or a figment of my imagination.

AVB in his comments about Didier Drogba leaving for the African Cup of Nations in January made a point that I believe to be quite interesting. He said:

"Of course, Anelka will not be available anymore but we have Sturridge, Lukaku and Fernando competing for that place when Drogba will be away.

I think many of us were looking forward to seeing the face of Michael Essien on English Premier League pitches some time this holiday season. It looks like we're going to have to wait a bit longer, however.

Not quite ready

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, speaking at his pre-Wigan press conference, touched on Essien's progress or lack thereof.

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering a move for the highly-rated Anderlecht hitman Matias Suarez in the upcoming January transfer window, according to InsideFootball today. With strikers Marouane Chamakh Yao Gervinho set to leave for the African Cup of Nations come January, the Frenchman has conceded that the Gunners will be a little short [.

It is being reported that the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering a loan move for New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry, who is currently training at the club, in the upcoming January transfer window. According to The Times, the Frenchman will try and sign the Arsenal legend on a one month loan deal [.

Terry Henry was a sensation at Arsenal. He remains a Gunners legend. But to sign him on loan for a couple of months would be a mistake. Yes, he scored goals for fun and spearheaded us to glory many times, not least of all during the season we went unbeaten in the Premier League. At no point am I denying he was one of the best players we have ever had.

Terry Henry was a sensation at Arsenal. He remains a Gunners legend. But to sign him on loan for a couple of months would be a mistake. Yes, he scored goals for fun and spearheaded us to glory many times, not least of all during the season we went unbeaten in the Premier League. At no point am I denying he was one of the best players we have ever had.

Terry Henry was a sensation at Arsenal. He remains a Gunners legend. But to sign him on loan for a couple of months would be a mistake. Yes, he scored goals for fun and spearheaded us to glory many times, not least of all during the season we went unbeaten in the Premier League. At no point am I denying he was one of the best players we have ever had.

First of all, no this is not some kind of 4-month-early-April-Fools prank. According to some quite reliable sources, Arsene Wenger is considering making a sensational re-signing of Thierry Henry on a short-term loan deal for Arsenal.

Without Robin Van Persie, Arsenal have looked very short for options up front with Maroune Chamakh not on great form, whilst they will lose both Chamakh and Gervinho to the African Cup Of Nations next month leaving them with Van Persie, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Chu-Young.

Newcastle are getting just a little bit too dependent on Demba Ba for the goals Newcastle score. Leon Best scoring against Aston Villa In the last five games Newcastle have scored scored five goal, all by a certain Demba Ba, and since he will be leaving early next month for the African Cup of Nations, that could become a problem [.

Newcastle will have a challenge when their top striker Demba Ba goes off to represent his country Senegal, in the African Cup of Nations next month. Ben Arfa after scoring first goal at Bolton on Monday But the strikers who will be left, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best are the ones who had to step up the plate in February, after Andy Carroll had left for [.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Although Thierry Henry's recent stint at Arsenal was technically just for training, rumors continue to swirl that Arsene Wenger is considering offering the former Arsenal striker a short-term contract. Some reports stipulate that a two-month loan has already been offered to the New York Red Bulls forward.

Newcastle Untied's Demba Ba looks to be in the form of his life and with the African Cup of Nations looming it seems like his clubs loss could be Senegal's gain.
The 2012 African Cup of Nations is the 28th renewal of the event and it gets underway on January 21st and given it lasts until February 12th a number of Premier League side could be without their star players for some time.

Arsenal are set to offer their former striker Thierry Henry a 2 month loan deal this January after the 34 year old impressed Arsene Wenger during his recent training spell with the club.

Henry is regarded as the club's best striker having scored an impressive 226 goals for Arsenal in a span of 8 years making him the club's all time leading top scorer.

Maybe I am clutching at straws here. Or maybe I have completely lost the plot in more ways than one.
But I am really hoping that Marouane Chamakh will come back to Arsenal, after the African Cup of Nations, a completely rejuvenated player.
Fingers crossed, hopefully he might even come back as Lukas Podolski.