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The Africa Cup of Nations ' return could see Manchester United and Manchester City lose some key players for up to a month. The biennial tournament, which runs from December 21 to January 18, coincides with a traditionally busy period in the English football calendar.

While some teams may face minimal disruption, others could lose a significant number of players . For instance, current Premier League leaders Arsenal have no African players in their first-team squad, whereas Sunderland could potentially lose up to nine players to the tournament.

Such a disparity could significantly impact a season, and not all clubs can afford to lose players during this crucial time. Only three teams, including Chelsea and Leeds, currently have no African players and are ther

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