Charlton boss slams Nations Cup

African players are now realising it is prohibitive for themselves to come into the Premiership Charlton manager Alan Curbishley

Alan Curbishley has become the latest English Premiership manager to slam the scheduling of the 2006 African Nations Cup.

Curbishley will have to do without Morocco centre-back Talal El Karkouri during the tournament in Egypt, which starts on 20 January.

Should Morocco reach the final, which will be played on 10 February, El Karkouri will be out of league action for up to six weeks.

"We were all under the impression that this [tournament] was all going to come into line with the rest of the international calendar, but it has not happened," Curbishley said.

"We have got to start seriously looking at this.

"We are losing Karkouri next Friday and if he is successful we don't get him back until after 10 February.

"He played in the World Cup [qualifiers] in the summer and got himself injured.

"He was out for three months which we paid for when he was injured and we have another six weeks now which we pay for when he goes to the African Nations Cup.

"African players are now realising it is prohibitive for themselves to come into the Premiership if this carries on," Curbishley added.

"But obviously if you sign African players, you know that is the problem.

"If you are going to sign quite a few, like Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, you have got to consider it."