Bundesliga stars who are (or aren't) going to AFCON
From Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Salomon Kalou - a number of African stars will be missed by the Bundesliga during the African Cup of Nations in Gabon. However, a couple have put their clubs before their national teams.
Acrobatic top scorer
It's no surprise that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 27, was included in Gabon's final squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He has left for the tournament at a time when injury-hit Borussia Dortmund need him more than ever. The striker has scored 16 goals in only 15 Bundesliga games this season.
Loan star
Nabil Bentaleb is expected to be a key player for Algeria. The midfielder joined Bundesliga side Schalke on a season-long loan in August 2016. Since he arrived in Germany, the energetic 22-year-old has scored five goals in 21 matches in all competitions. Schalke have an option to buy the player, who is still under contract with Tottenham Hotspur but will have to do without him for now.
Starting to make his mark
Bernard Tekpetey, 19, is a promising young winger who joined Schalke from the Ghanaian side Unistar Soccer Academy in January 2016. He made his Bundesliga debut for the Royal Blues on Matchday 15 of this season, after getting his first taste of international club football with an appearance in an Europa League contest in late November. He's made the cut for Ghana.
Attacking defender
Abdul Rahman Baba (right) is another who made the Ghanaian squad. The left back is on loan at Schalke from Premier League leaders Chelsea. He has said that he opted for the loan spell after new Chelsea coach Antonio Conte told him he would see very little playing time there, due to his attacking style of play. The 22-year-old played every minute of Ghana's campaign last AFCON campaign.
Club over country
Marvin Matip, 31, was born in Bochum to a Cameroonian father and a German mother. He was eligible to play for both nations but opted for the West African country. Despite that choice, the Ingolstadt captain has chosen to put his club first this January - just like half a dozen other Cameroon players, including his brother Joel, who plays under Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool.
True blue
Another Bundesliga player that Cameroon will have to do without is Hamburg-born Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The 27-year-old, known for his high work rate and powerful direct dribbling, has represented Cameroon at two World Cups. However, just before Schalke started preparations for the resumption of the Bundesliga, Choupo-Moting announced that he would give the Africa Cup of Nations a miss.
An AFCON veteran
Werder Bremen midfielder Sambou Yatarbare will also be in Gabon with Mali. The 27-year-old represented his country at the 2015 AFCON, scoring Mali's first goal of the tournament in a 1–1 draw with Cameroon. Yatabare has struggled for playing time with Bremen this term but is likely to be a key figure for his national team.
Failed to make the cut
Berlin-born Änis Ben-Hatira, 28, plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga side Darmstadt and has 11 caps for Tunisia. But the former Hertha Berlin man was omitted from Tunisia's squad. That may prove to be a blessing for Darmstadt, the club are dead last and need all the help they can get in their battle against relegation.
Part of the Hertha success story
While RB Leipzig have stolen all the healdlines, Saloman Kalou's Hertha Berlin have quietly overachieved again. The Ivorian forward, 31, has impresed for both Hertha and the Ivory Coast national team in recent years and has scored five goals for his club this season. He's expected to play his part again in Gabon.
Country over club
French-born Marcel Tisserand is a Congolese defender who plays his club football for Ingolstadt. Tisserand, who has made 13 appearances since moving to the Bundesliga club from AS Monaco in the summer, will surely be missed by the struggling German side. Ingolstadt went into the winter break in 17th place in the Bundesliga table.