Power Ranking the 10 Most Important EPL Players in the African Cup of Nations

One of the few cases that an international tournament supersedes club play, the African Cup of Nations is one of the best international tournaments in the world, and this January and February, it takes place in both Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

It is also at this time that many squads will lose some of their most influential players. With squads such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea all losing multiple players to this tournament, the entire Premier League race could shift dramatically in this one-month span.

This year's African Cup of Nations contains some of Africa's best talent. Here are the 10 most influential players that will be lost during this year's edition of the tournament.

10. Armand Traore

Club: Queens Park Rangers

Nation: Senegal

After moving from Arsenal at the end of the summer transfer window, Armand Traore has become a full-time starter at QPR and has proven to be an efficient left back at the club.

Traore has provided two assists this season in 14 appearances for QPR and has been an attacking threat down the wings.

Without Traore, QPR will continue its race against relegation (the club currently is in 17th place in the table).

9. Adel Taarabt

Club: Queens Park Rangers

Nation: Morocco

He may not be as offensively minded as he was last season, yet Adel Taarabt has started to pick up his play with QPR over the past month, and he will be an important figure for Morocco in this tournament.

QPR have been one of the worst offensive sides in the league this season, and they will certainly need Taarabt to pick up his play once the tournament ends. If he doesn't, QPR will probably get relegated.

8. Mohamed Diame

Club: Wigan Athletic

Nation: Senegal

A starting midfielder for Wigan, Mohamed Diame will be gone from the club during an important part of their campaign with Wigan currently just above the bottom of the Premier League table.

Diame has already tallied twice for Wigan this season and will be a critical part of their squad as they attempt to once again avoid relegation at the end of the season.

7. Cheick Tiote

Club: Newcastle

Nation: Cote d'Ivoire

After helping stop Manchester United's attack in Newcastle's convincing 3-0 win several days ago, Cheick Tiote will look to do the same for the Cote d'Ivoire in Africa over the next month.

Tiote has been one of the top defensive midfielders in the Premier League this season, and his previous play with his nation includes playing in all three matches in the 2010 World Cup.

Newcastle will be hurt without having Tiote over the next month, with the Magpies currently sitting in seventh in the table.

6. Salomon Kalou

Club: Chelsea

Nation: Cote d'Ivorie

Salomon Kalou has been negatively affected this season due to injuries, yet he is still among the most talented players in this year's African Cup of Nations.

Kalou will look to bring some more offensive firepower to a Cote d'Ivorie side that is already stacked with some fantastic talent.

If he impresses enough, Kalou will get more playing time at Chelsea and try to ensure that the club gets a Champions League berth next season.

5. Kolo Toure

Club: Manchester City

Nation: Cote d'Ivorie

After missing six months due to a positive drug test, Yaya Toure has impressed again with Manchester City, once again becoming a starter and playing a massive defensive role.

Kolo's play in the back has been crucial for City, who have conceded the fewest goals in the league this season with only 16.

City do have adequate defenders to replace Toure for a short period of time, but his leadership loss could temporarily hurt the club.

4. Gervinho

Club: Arsenal

Nation: Cote d'Ivorie

He has been one of the best new players in the Premier League this season, and Gervinho will once again join the Cote d'Ivoire for an international tournament.

Gervinho previously has played in two African Cup of Nations and a World Cup with the Cote d'Ivoire.

Arsenal will miss Gervinho's creativity and speed during the tournament, but this will not be an overwhelming loss for the Gunners for a month.

3. Didier Drogba

Club: Chelsea

Nation: Cote d'Ivoire 

He is one of the greatest African footballers ever and has scored 150 goals for Chelsea, yet Didier Drogba has seen less playing time this season due in large part to a concussion suffered early in the season.

Drogba will look to bring back the fantastic form that Chelsea fans have known with this African Cup of Nations.

Considering they are fourth in the table and losing one of their top players, it will be interesting to see how Chelsea cope without Drogba for a month after missing him for a large amount of time earlier.

2. Yaya Toure

Club: Manchester City

Nation: Cote d'Ivorie

One of the most important players in Manchester City's success story this season, Yaya Toure has been a player that Man City simply cannot afford to miss for a long stretch of time.

Already this season, the younger Toure brother has completed a mesmerizing 1,552 passes, the most in the Premier League. Also, Toure has provided six goals and four assists this season for Man City in all competitions.

Without his attacking runs, Man City will lose some of their attacking edge over the next month. However, City will probably return to their amazing form once he returns from international duty.

1. Demba Ba

Club: Newcastle

Nation: Senegal

What can't we say about Demba Ba? Ba has the second-most goals in the Premier League this season with 15, has contributed to a whooping 62 percent of Newcastle's goals this season and has been the main reason why the club is currently seventh in the league table.

However, Newcastle will be missing Ba for the next few weeks due to the African Cup of Nations. Newcastle will be hurt without their best player this season and will need to find goalscoring help from other players for several matches.

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