Ghana Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien will miss the African Nations Cup after sustaining an ankle injury whilst playing for his club side, Chelsea FC.

Essien picked up the injury during Chelsea's 3-1 English Premiership win over West Ham on Monday, and the Chelsea coaching team want Essien to remain in London to receive treatment.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has said that the midfielder will not return to match fitness until February, and with the competition beginning on January 20 Mourinho argued that Ghana should accept that the midfielder is truly injured, and to let him stay in London for treatment.

"He has a bad injury to the ankle ligaments, but I cannot be specific because I’m not a specialist and the information I like to get from the medical department is how long will I be without the player," said Mourinho.

"The diagnosis is that until the end of the month it will be a recovery period for him."

"He is injured, and I think Ghana are intelligent enough to understand that if the player is injured the best thing to do is leave him in good hands at home, and to recover. But is he in a condition to start the competition? For sure he isn’t."

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