Ancelotti to allow key quartet leave early for African Nations

CHELSEA coach Carlo Ancelotti has given four key players permission to go to the African Nations Cup early.

It means Ivory Coast strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou plus Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi and Ghana’s Michael Essien will miss five club games in January, including their FA Cup third round tie against Watford at Stamford Bridge.

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