Sulley Muntari, the Portsmouth midfielder, has urged African Nations Cup organisers to move the tournament to the summer months to avoid clubs being without their African stars for a number of weeks in a crucial period of the season.

Muntari, a Ghanaian international, scorer of two superb strikes from distance in Portsmouth’s 3-1 success at Aston Villa on Saturday, is one of a number of Portsmouth players who will be absent from club duty soon after the turn of the year. Kanu and John Utaka [both Nigeria] and Papa Bouba Diop [Senegal] will also be heading to Ghana for the tournament.

Muntari, formerly of Udinese, is proud to represent his country especially with the tournament taking place in his home country, but is hoping a compromise can be reached.

“I’m praying the tournament is switched to the summer in future so we can play for our clubs all season,” he said. “This will benefit everyone as we are playing so well at the moment. All we can do at the moment is pick up as many points as possible before we go to Africa.”

The African Nations Cup throws up a quandary for the organisers as well as the European leagues. Only five out of 20 Premier League clubs will not be affected by the exodus to Ghana. Chelsea, with Jon Obi Mikel [Nigeria], Michael Essien [Ghana] and Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou [Ivory Coast] will be concerned more than most and the absence of those four players could have a serious bearing on their Premiership aspirations.

On the other hand, playing in the summer would expose players to baking hot temperatures which could be injurious to their health.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, and David Moyes, his Everton counterpart, have been two of the most vocal about their disappointment about the players they will be losing in January – even though all managers know the downside of signing African players.

Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, could have his problems further exacerbated by a desire from Berti Vogts, the Nigeria manager, for Utaka and Kanu to report to a pre-tournament training camp two weeks early.

Portsmouth’s first team squad will be reduced to 14 outfield players when their African players depart, a situation which has been worrying Redknapp.

“If we get an injury we will be in trouble, and I will have to get in a few loans or players from the lower divisions to fill the squad,” he said