AFCON 2017: The Premier League players leaving England to Gabon in January

The 31st edition of the tournament gets underway in Gabon on January 14, with many players having already jetted out with their international teammates

In total, 26 Premier League players are flying off to Gabon (Photo: Anadolu Agency/AFP/Getty)
PFA Player of the Year, Riyad Mahrez is one of 26 Premier League players jetting off to Gabon for the Africa Cup of Nations this month.
The final will be held at the Stade d'Angondjé on February 5, meaning some English clubs could be without their players for up to four domestic matches.
Sadio Mane (Senegal), who has been in excellent form for Liverpool this season, has already flown off while Manchester United will lose £30million defender, Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast).
Benik Afobe, however, withdrew from the Democratic Republic of Congo's squad to concentrate on his Bournemouth career.
In total, more than half of Premier League clubs will be missing players this month while five teams will be without three of their first team squad members.
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS HEADING TO GABON:
Arsenal: Ismael Bennacer (Algeria), Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)
Bournemouth: Max Gradel (Ivory Coast)
Crystal Palace: Bakary Sako (Mali), Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast),
Everton: Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
Hull City: Ahmed Elmohamady (Egypt), Dieumerci Mbokani (DR Congo)
Leicester City: Daniel Amartey (Ghana), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Islam Slimani (Algeria),
Liverpool: Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Manchester United: Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)
Southampton: Sofiane Boufal (Morocco)
Stoke: Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast), Mame Biram Diouf (Senegal), Ramadan Sobhi (Egypt)
Sunderland: Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia), Lamine Kone (Ivory Coast), Didier Ndong (Gabon)
Watford: Nordin Amrabat (Morocco), Brice Dja Djedje (Ivory Coast), Adlene Guedioura (Algeria)
West Ham: Andre Ayew (Ghana), Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria), Cheikou Kouyate (Senegal)