"We will not sign any more African players for this season," Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon told BBC Sport.

"The four players who will be at the Nations Cup are not squad players but they are key first-team players. Their absence will be a blow to the club that's why we are on the market to get players as back up during the tournament."

Chelsea will miss four of their key players as Ivory Coast duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Ghana's Michael Essien and Nigeria's Mikel Jon Obi will have to fly to Ghana to play with their countries.

Chelsea already signed Peruvian striker Claudio Pizzaro, midfielders Steve Sidwill and Israeli Tal Ben Haim in addition to Brazilian defender Alex.

Although Kenya hopes to find an agreement concerning his four players so that they can be released just before the tournament starts in order to minimize the disruption.