Blackburn Rovers missed out on Annan

Blackburn Rovers Football Club missed out on one of the stars of the African Cup of Nations

Anthony Annan is one of the players of the tournament as host nation Ghana continue to progress, and his current club Start have revealed the midfielder almost moved to Ewood Park.

"Anthony should have gone to Blackburn," the Norwegian club's sporting director Svein Mathisen told Sky Sports.

"But he did not get a work permit so we managed to sign him. He is doing well for us and we have him on a long-term contract to 2011 - but it would not surprise us if he left in the summer."