Wenger demands Toure and Eboue delay Egypt departure

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants his Cote d'Ivoire defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, seen here 28 December 2005, to delay their departures for the African Nations Cup by more than a week

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants his Cote d'Ivoire defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue to delay their departures for the African Nations Cup by more than a week.

Countries competing in the tournament can invoke FIFA's rules allowing their players to join up on January 6 - two weeks before the tournament begins in Egypt.

But Wenger, who is without injured Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy, says he needs Toure and Eboue to be available for the FA Cup third round tie against Cardiff, the League Cup semi-final first leg against Wigan and the Premiership clash against Middlesbrough.

"Losing Kolo will be a big blow, especially with so many games to play. We already have Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy out, and we lose cover at right-back with Emmanuel Eboue going," said Wenger.

"They are due to leave on January 6 but I will ask permission for them to leave later. I'd hope they could leave on January 15 as we want them for the Middlesbrough game the day before.

"I think everybody will be allowed (to delay player departures) because they don't need to work on fitness. Although the competition starts on January 20, the Ivory Coast do not play their first game until January 22."

Wenger will not lose right-back Lauren, who has retired from international football with Cameroon, but he is frustrated by the timing of the tournament in the middle of the European league season.

"It's a big competition in Africa but I find it strange that, in the year of the World Cup, they have the African Nations Cup," said Wenger.

"It's like us organising the European Championships in the same year as the World Cup. For years now, we have asked them to organise this cup at least every four years and during the summer."