Africa Cup of Nations 2012: Gervinho and More EPL Stars to Watch

Some of the biggest and best stars of the pitch will be featured at the 2012 African Cup of Nations, and it's about time you were acquainted with them. 

You might be a football fanatic, in which case this list would serve to open that gaping wound by reminding you that your club is missing some amazing talent right about now. 

The winter frost is far more biting this year as the African Cup of Nations steals away some of the best players in the world. 

If you are still getting acquainted with this wonderful sport and the imaginative characters that make up its cast, this tournament is as good a time as any to start watching. 

Here's a look at some of the most enticing players that are leaving a temporary hole in the English Premier League this January. 

Didier Drogba

Let's begin the breakdown with one of the best players to come out of the Ivory Coast. Chelsea bias aside, Drogba still has punch left despite getting on in years. 

The legend of Stamford Bridge gives Ivory Coast a strong player up front that is not afraid to muscle his way to prime real estate in the box. Since I may be called out for this anyway, I'll admit that the man loves to flop. His gamesmanship is second to none.  

Yaya Toure

Manchester City has enjoyed an immense rise and serves to usurp United as best in town. One reason is the skill and poise presented by Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure. 

The Citizens have had to deal with a great deal of tumult this season—ahem, Carlos Tevez—but there is no questioning Toure's loyalties between club and nation are torn. The Sun reports on Toure's commitment to win the tournament and come right back to finish off the EPL with the only acceptable result. 

Toure is joined by his brother Kolo, who also plays with Manchester City. The defender is a maestro with great distribution skills and will make the Ivorians tough to beat. 

Gervinho

The Gunners welcomed back a legend of the pitch in Thierry Henry this month, but they are also losing one of their most spirited and refined talents on the roster in Gervinho. 

An up and down year has seen Gervinho score four times while dishing out five assists. Arsenal will miss his direct measures in attack and the pace he sets on the wings.  

Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal is also missing a striker in Chamakh who plays for Morocco. While he is away on International duty, the striker has gone a long way to committing his future to Arsene Wenger's squad. Fox Sports reports Chamakh is not about to request a leave from Arsenal, despite what many believe.

Demba Ba

We end with a man that is just killing it right now for Newcastle. No team will have a greater loss than the Magpies, who will lose their in-form striker for the duration of the African Cup of Nations. 

The forward has scored nearly 60 percent of the club's goals this season and will be just as vital to the Senegalese side. Ba has a knack for picking the right place to be at the right time. His pace and accuracy is unparalleled this season. 

Day/Time ET	Team	v	Team	Stage	Watch
1-21 / 1:30 p.m.	Equa. Guinea	v	Libya	Group A	Link
1-21 / 4 p.m	Senegal	v	Zambia	Group A	Link
1-22 / 11 a.m.	Ivory Coast	v	Sudan	Group B	Link
1-22 / 2 p.m.	Burkina Faso	v	Angola	Group B	Link
1-23 / 11 a.m.	Gabon	v	Niger	Group C	Link
1-23 / 2 p.m.	Morocco	v	Tunisia	Group C	Link
1-24 / 11 a.m.	Ghana	v	Botswana	Group D	Link
1-24 / 2 p.m.	Mali	v	Guinea	Group D	Link
1-25 / 11 a.m.	Libya	v	Zambia	Group A	Link
1-25 / 2. p.m.	Equa. Guinea	v	Senegal	Group A	Link
1-26 / 11 a.m.	Sudan	v	Angola	Group B	Link
1-26 / 2 p.m.	Ivory Coast	v	B. Faso	Group B	Link
1-27 / 11 a.m.	Niger	v	Tunisia	Group C	Link
1-27 / 2 p.m.	Gabon	v	Morocco	Group C	Link
1-28 / 11 a.m.	Botswana	v	Guinea	Group D	Link
1-28 / 2 p.m.	Ghana	v	Mali	Group D	Link
1-29 / 1 p.m.	Equa. Guinea	v	Zambia	Group A	Link
1-29 / 1 p.m.	Libya	v	Senegal	Group A	Link
1-30 / 1 p.m.	Ivory Coast	v	Angola	Group B	Link
1-30 / 1 p.m.	Sudan	v	B. Faso	Group B	Link
1-31 / 1 p.m.	Gabon	v	Tunisia	Group C	Link
1-31 / 1 p.m.	Niger	v	Morocco	Group C	Link
2-1 / 1 p.m.	Botswana	v	Mali	Group D	Link
2-1 / 1 p.m.	Ghana	v	Guinea	Group D	Link
2-4 / 11 a.m.	A Winner	v	2B	Quarters	Link
2-4 / 2 p.m.	B Winner	v	2A	Quarters	Link
2-5 / 11 a.m.	C Winner	v	2D	Quarters	Link
2-5 / 2 p.m.	D Winner	v	2C	Quarters	Link
2-8 / 11 a.m.	TBD	v	TBD	Semis	Link
2-8 / 2 p.m.	TBD	v	TBD	Semis	Link
2-11 / 2 p.m.	TBD	v	TBD	3rd	Link
2-12 / 2 p.m	SF 1 Win	v	SF 2 Win	Final	Link

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