The historical feat of becoming the first Portuguese speaking African country to host the Orange Africa Nations Cup, Angola is set for the feast of African football! One player carrying the hopes of a nation is Inter Milan and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o. The talismanic striker has made the departure from northern Italy and joined his fellow countrymen in Nairobi for a pre-tournament training camp meaning it is farewell to Italy and Hello Africa!

It's not just in Serie A where the big stars are planning 3 weeks away from domestic duty. The African Nations Cup is likely to have a major impact upon events at both ends of the English Premier League table also. Chelsea will bid farewell to Ivory Coast forwards Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as well as Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Nigeria's John Obi-Mikel, all departing for Angola. There have been seasons where Arsenal, now four points off top spot, would have had as many players on African Nations Cup duty as London rivals Chelsea. This time around the Gunners will only be without Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue and Cameroon midfielder Alex Song.

But if any Premier League side is likely to be adversely affected by the tournament, it is basement club Portsmouth. In the midst of all their other problems, Pompey are set to lose four players to the African Nations Cup in Ivory Coast international Aruna Dindane, Algeria duo Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda and Nigeria veteran Kanu.

So get set for a pulsating twenty-one days of football, amid joy and tears, during which Angola will witness feats from African football greats. They’ll all be there too, not just Eto’o; famours names including Drogba, Martins, Zidan, Muntari, Meghni, Adebayor, Touré… all pulling on their country's jersey with one dream, to lift the trophy on January 31 in Luanda.