Cup of Nations Moves South
Can a Sub-Saharan Side Win the Trophy for the First Time since 2002?
After Tunisia and Egypt won the last two African Cup of Nations tournaments on home soil, can West Africa expect success this time around in Ghana?
The African Cup of Nations has been hosted in north Africa on the last two occasions - Tunisia in 2004 and Egypt in 2006 - and both tournaments were won by the hosts. The 2008 competition moves to Ghana and sees the leading West African nations take over the rôles of favourites.
Ghana have home advantage, which is worth so much in a tournament where only the host nation's games are guaranteed large crowds. They have an outstanding midfield - Essien, Appiah, Muntari - but are short of class up front and in defence. Birmingham City goalkeeper Richard Kingson did not inspire confidence on his St Andrew's début.
Cameroon have Samuel Eto'o, with whom anything is possible. Forward Pierre Webó is injured so Eto'o's support will come from Toulouse attacking midfielder Achille Emana or MSV Duisburg striker Mohamadou Idrissou. A very winnable group draw - they face Egypt, Sudan and Zambia - only helps their chances.
Ivory Coast boast excellent strength in depth, with Premiership quality all over the park in Kolo Touré, Salomon Kalou, Didier Zokora, Abdoulaye Méïté, Emmanuel Eboué and Chelsea's special striker Didier Drogba, who spearheads the Ivorian's strongest challenge for the African title since their 1992 success. Yaya Touré - Kolo's brother - is proving a hit at Barcelona and Uli Stielike's side have a pool of forwards the envy of the whole continent.
Nigeria, perennial underachievers, have not won the title since 1994 but easily lead the continent in production of talent. Yakubu, Martins, Kanu, Odemwingie and Makinwa compete for a starting berth up front; it says a lot that Everton's excellent young forward Victor Anichebe may need to turn to England to get a game in international football. After screwing up qualification for the 2006 World Cup and tamely losing their Cup of Nations semi final to the Ivory Coast, Nigeria have everything to prove this time around.
Senegal promised great things after reaching the 2002 World Cup quarter finals but their form has been sporadic ever since. Bolton's mercurial forward El-Hadji Diouf has a great future behind him while their ranks boast greater quantity than quality. Marseille striker Mamadou Niang can bring the goals but Henri Camara's career is sliding on the West Ham substitute bench. Goalkeeper Tony Sylva faces his last hurrah in international tournament football unless an improbable World Cup berth is achieved.
Mali are little more than an outside bet, especially with midfielders Momo Sissoko and Mahamadou Diarra struggling to make waves at Liverpool and Real Madrid. Seville striker Frédéric Kanouté, though, is a star and if Mali are to escape from a tough group he will need to be on top goalscoring form.
The Draw
Group A: Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Morocco
Group B: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali, Benin
Group C: Egypt, Cameroon, Sudan, Zambia
Group D: Tunisia, Senegal, South Africa, Angola
