The African Cup of Nations may not feature many Chinese-based players, but it will be a good demonstration of their soft power on the continent With the 2017 African Cup of Nations about to start in Gabon, one could be forgiven for switching one’s attention away from Europe’s big leagues and also from the transfer frenzy prompted by the newly re-opened Chinese player transfer window. The African Cup of Nations is a showcase for the continent’s best football talent, although it inevitably causes controversy as players based in Europe often face a choice of leaving their clubs mid-season or else missing out on playing for their countries.