Boost for West Ham in their pursuit of spot in EuropeSong has been a key part of West Ham’s resurgence

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

West Ham United’s pursuit of a place in Europe has received a boost after Cameroon left Alex Song out of their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The midfielder has played a significant role in West Ham’s impressive start to the season, which has taken the club to fourth in the Premier League going into the Boxing Day match against Chelsea.

Song, who is on loan from Barcelona, has started 10 of West Ham’s league matches this season. The Africa Cup of Nations takes place in Equatorial Guinea from 17 January to 8 February.

West Ham are expected to lose the Senegal defenders Diafra Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyaté for the tournament, with that squad scheduled to be announced on Friday.

Cameroon’s coach, Volker Finke, has ignored Song since this year’s World Cup in Brazil. Song was sent off for elbowing the Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic in a 4-0 group stage defeat.

Finke has retained just eight players from the squad that crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage without earning a point and having scored one goal while conceding nine.

Goalkeepers Pierre Sylvain Abogo (Tonnerre Yaoundé), Guy N’dy Assembé (Nancy), Fabrice Ondoa (Barcelona B)

Defenders Cédric Djeugoué (CotonSport), Nicolas N’Koulou (Marseille), Henri Bedimo (Lyon), Frank Bagnack (Barcelona B), Ambroise Oyongo (New York Red Bulls), Brice N’Laté (Marseille)

Midfielders Eyong Enoh (Standard Liège), Stéphane Mbia (Sevilla), Raoul Loé (Osasuna), Edgar Salli (Académica), Georges Mandjeck (Kayseri Erciyesspor), Franck Kom (Étoile du Sahel), Patrick Ekeng (Córdoba)

Forwards Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Schalke), Benjamin Moukandjo (Reims), Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto), Léonard Kweuke (Caykur Rizespor), Clinton N’Jie (Lyon), Franck Etoundi (FC Zurich), Jacques Zoua Daogari (Kayseri Erciyesspor)