Africa Cup of Nations preview and Anderlecht link

OTHER Tomorrow, Gabon kicks off the Africa Cup (CAN). Five Anderlecht players will be present on the tournament and many others have an Anderlecht past. We'll give you a preview of the tournament and of the interesting games.

Anderlecht-players on the Africa Cup

Sofiane Hanni, Kara Mbodj and Frank Acheampong are three important players in Anderlecht and all three also have ambitions on the Africa Cup. Algeria of Sofiane Hanni is one of the favourites for the victory. Hanni himself may not be in the starting line-up of his team. He has to deal with competition of Mahrez, Slimani (both Leicester) and Bentaleb (Schalke 04). 

Hanni will face Kara Mbodj's Senegal, that never survived the first round since 2006. Senegal counts on Sow (Fenerbahce), Diouf (Stoke) and Mané (Liverpool) to finally make it to the next round again. Senegal will have to beat Tunesia and Zimbabwe in group A to reach the second round, together with favourites Algeria. Kara Mbodj has a place in Senegal's starting line-up.

The final of the previous Africa cup was lost by Ghana (against Ivory Coast) on penalties with 9-8. Anderlecht's Frank Acheampong missed a penalty back then. Ghana should be able to easily qualify, together with Egypt, in group D. Mali and Uganda are the other two teams in this group. Acheampong isn't sure of a place in the starting line-up but he usually one of the replacements.

Also Trezeguet (Egypt) and Fabrice N'Sakala (DR Congo) will be playing on the Africa Cup. Both players are still under contract in Anderlecht.

Former Anderlecht players on the Africa Cup

Anderlecht has a tradition of African players and players with African roots. The following ones have an Anderlecht past:

• Bakary Saré came to Anderlecht at young age but wasn't able to convince. He moved to Rosenborg first and is now active for Moreirense in Portugal. Saré plays for Burkina Faso.
• With Cameroon we'll find former player Sébastien Siani. Former Anderlecht coach Hugo Broos is their manager. Also Arnaud Sitchuin Djoum has an Anderlecht past. He's now active for Hearts in Scotland.
• Senegal's Cheihou Kouyaté moved from Anderlecht to West Ham two years ago.
• Nicaise Kudimbana (Antwerp), Chancel Mbemba (Newcastle), Junior Kabananga (Astana) and Dieumerci Mbokani (Hull City) were all once Anderlecht players. Jordan Botaka (Charlton) was also active in Anderlecht's youth. 
• Mbark Boussoufa (Al Jazira) will be active for Morroco. He used to be Anderlecht's playmaker and was even close to a return to Brussels last season. Omar El Kaddouri was one of Anderlecht's best youngsters but he made a move to Napoli in Italy.
• Finally there's Henri Eninful (Togo). In 2010 he tested for Anderlecht but wasn't offered a contract. He moved to Standard eventually. Right now he's playing for Doxa Katokopias in Cyprus.