Aston Villa will be able to call on new signing Moustapha Salifou in January after Togo were eliminated from the African Nations Cup reckoning.

Mali were 2-0 winners against Togo in Lome to claim a place in the finals and dash Salifou's hopes.

Salifou should finally link up with his new Villa team mates after the current international break.

The midfielder has endured a frustrating wait for work-permit problems to be resolved since Martin O'Neill made a surprise deadline day swoop for his services.