Essien, Others Released For 2010 Nations Cup

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has given permission to crocked Ghana midfielder to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola at the end of the month.

Also granted permission by the Italian manager are Cote d’Ivoire strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou and Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi.

Essien is facing a battle to be fit in time after collecting a hamstring injury against APOEL in their final Champions League game in midweek.

Ancelotti is happy for Ghana to send over their doctor to examine Essien and he insists the player should be fit in time to leave on December 28.

But it is unlikely that Essien will play for Chelsea before joining up with his country. Essien will miss five club games in January, including their FA Cup third round tie against Watford at Stamford Bridge.

'The African players can all go on December 28,' Ancelotti confirmed to The Sun. 'Michael had a scan and I think he will be out for between three and four weeks.

'The aim is to work to improve his injury but I think he will be ready to go on December 28, if he stays well.

'I have no problem with the Ghana doctor coming here. If they want to come here to see Essien, there is no problem,' he added.

The African Nations Cup runs from January 10-31 but Ancelotti is happy for the quartet to leave early and join their respective pre-tournament training camps.

Meanwhile, The Sunday Times newspaper reported yesterday that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to complain that Chelsea broke FIFA rules by playing midfielder in a home win over Wolves on November 21.

Wolves are also considering their position. Essien scored twice in a 4-0 victory and should the complaint be upheld, the English Premier League leaders face a points deduction.

Under FIFA regulations Essien was ineligible for the game because he refused to turn up for Ghana’s friendly in Angola the previous Wednesday.

At the time, the Ghana FA said they would take action against Essien and absent teammates Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan. All three apologised and each was fined $5,000.

Wenger believes Essien should have been suspended for Chelsea’s subsequent Premier League fixture, the 3-0 win at Arsenal.

“Essien didn’t play for Ghana but he still played against us,” said Wenger. “He was not entitled to do so.” As the story gained impetus last Saturday, Wenger said: “We will investigate to see if there has been a breach of the regulations.”

Chelsea say the matter is a “non-issue” because they have written permission from Ghana’s FA to use Essien. There are doubts, however, about the value of that letter: Muntari’s club, Inter, also received a communication from Ghana’s FA, but were told by the Italian federation that it made no difference and Muntari was left out of the Inter squad to face Bologna.

Fred Pappoe, the Ghana FA vice-president, told The Sunday Times he was unaware any permission had been granted.