TEAM ANALYSIS

Overview

The African Cup of Nations begins on January 10, 2010 in various stadiums in Angola, and it is sure to bring the continent to a standstill for three weeks. The tournament kicks off with the first match between host country Angola and Mali in Luanda.

GROUP A – ANGOLA, MALI, MALAWI, ALGERIA

ANGOLA

Angola’s football fortunes changed dramatically when they qualified for the World Cup finals in Germany 2006. They have not looked back since then and are expected to provide good resistance to the other three countries in their group. Key players like Flavio Da Silva (Ahly, Egypt). They will be a force to be reckoned with and whoever takes them lightly does so at their own peril.

There will be undoubted pressure on host nation Angola as they enter the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, especially as recent form has been patchy under new coach Manuel Jose.

Angola’s qualification for the World Cup finals in 2006 proved one of the biggest shocks in recent African football history, but they have failed to build on that in recent times.

The achievement of 2006 came against the backdrop of a 30-year-old nation, mired in a brutal civil war until just a few years ago and still struggling with meagre infrastructure.

But the country’s football federation have long had a policy of seeking out talent with Angolan connections in the Diaspora in Europe, notably in former colonial power Portugal.

Several key players have emerged from outside of Angolan club structures to bolster the side, although ironically most from the obscurity of minor clubs.

They achieved their best-ever result in the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana, where they reached the quarterfinals before losing out to eventual winners Egypt.

This will be their third tournament finals in a row and their best chance at success.

MALI

(MTNFOOTBALL)Mali have a curious record at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, having only made five appearances in the tournament's history, but reaching the semifinals on four of those occasions.

The record was four from four before they bowed out in the first round of the 2008 championship in Ghana, though that was only on goal-difference in a tough group that also included Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria.

Their best-ever showing was way back in 1972 when they lost 3-2 in the final to Congo. They next appeared in the championship in 1994 in Tunisia, when they lost in the semifinals to Zambia.

They again made the last four in 2002, an event they hosted, but lost comprehensively to eventual champions Cameroon in the semis.

They were back again two years later in Tunisia, but this time it was Morocco who put paid to their championship ambitions in the semifinals.

Goalkeepers: Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade Malien), Mahamadou Sidibe (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus), Oumar Sissoko (Metz, France)

Defenders: Souleymane Diamountene (Bari, Italy), Ousmane Berthe (Jomo Cosmos, South Africa), Abdoulaye Maiga (Stade Malien), Bakary Soumare (Boulogne-sur-Mer, France), Adama Tamboura (Helsingborg, Sweden)

Midfielders: Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid, Spain), Lassana Fane (Al Merreikh, Sudan), Seydou Keita (Barcelona, Spain), Momo Sissoko (Juventus, Italy), Samba Sow (Racing Lens, France), Abdoul Traore (Girondins Bordeaux, France), Bakaye Traore (Nancy, France), Mahamane Traore (Nice, France)

Strikers: Mamadou Bagayoko (Nice, France), Mamadou Diallo (Le Havre, France), Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla, Spain), Modibo Maiga (Le Mans, France), Tenema Ndiaye (Nantes, France), Mamadou Samassa (Valenciennes, France), Mustapha Yatabare (Clermont Foot, France).

MALAWI

(MTNFOOTBALL)Malawi will be making just their second trip to the Africa Cup of Nations finals when they take part in the tournament in Angola.

There only previous showing was at the 1984 event in Cote d'Ivoire, when they bowed out in the first round, but certainly did not embarrass themselves.

After an opening match 3-0 defeat to Algeria, the Malawians held Nigeria to a 2-2 draw, before going down by a slender 1-0 margin to Ghana.

The team coached by Kinnah Phiri will be one of the less fancied sides in the 2010 event, but they showed with a brave 1-1 draw against a full-strength Cote d'Ivoire in a World Cup qualifier recently that they can compete with the very best.

Goalkeepers: Simplex Nthala (Wanderers), Swadick Sanudi (Dynamos, South Africa), Charles Swini (ESCOM United)

Defenders: Moses Chavula (Nathi Lions, South Africa), Elvis Kafoteka (ESCOM United), Allan Kamanga (Dynamos, South Africa), Peter Mponda (Black Leopards, South Africa), Maupo Msowoya (ESCOM United), Harry Nyirenda (Wanderers), James Sangala (Primeiro Agosto, Angola)

Midfielders: Davie Banda (Red Lions), Joseph Kamwendo (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Fisher Kondowe (Black Leopards, South Africa), Hellings Mwakasungula (Silver Strikers), Robert Ngambi (Black Leopards, South Africa), Jacob Ngwira (Carara Kicks, South Africa), Peter Wadabwa (Thanda Royals Zulu, South Africa)

Strikers: Esau Kanyenda (FC Kamaz, Russia), Chiukepo Msowoya (Deportivo Muculmana, Mozambique), Russell Mwafulirwa (IFK Norrkoping, Sweden), Victor Nyirenda (ESCOM United), Atusaye Nyondo (Carara Kicks, South Africa), Jimmy Zakazaka (Bay United, South Africa).

ALGERIA

(MTNFOOTBALL)Algeria are enjoying a major revival in their football having qualified for the 2010 World Cup after a tense play-off with Egypt.

This resurgence has come mainly off the back of a change in FIFA ruling that allows players over the age of 21 who have turned out for countries in junior football, to switch allegiances if they qualify for another senior international team.

This has seen an influx of French-born players into the Algerian squad, who may well now be dark horses for the 2010 Nations Cup event. It would be their second continental triumph following success in the 1990 tournament that they hosted, having previously been runners-up in 1980 in Nigeria.

The 1980s was very much the Golden Age of Algerian football with two World Cup appearances (1982 and 1986), as well as trips to at the very leas the semifinals of the Nations Cup in five out of six tournaments, before finally claiming that win at the turn of the 90s.

Their failure to win a place at the 2006 tournament in Tunisia ended a run of 13 qualifications in a row, though they did not get past the quarterfinals after their win in 1990.

GROUP B - COTE D’IVOIRE, BURKINA FASO, GHANA, TOGO

COTE D’IVOIRE

Ivory Coast have reached the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations on no less than eight occasion, but have just a single continental triumph to show for their efforts.

That is a poor conversion rate that once again came to the fore in the 2008 tournament in Ghana when they brushed all before them aside in reaching the last four, but were then hammered 4-1 by Egypt in their semi.

It was a trend that was set way back in 1965 when they first entered the competition and went on to reach the semifinals in their first three tournaments.

Click here for live Match Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso

A lean period followed until 1986 when they were again in the last four, but they finally made the breakthrough in 1992, winning the tournament in Senegal with a marathon 11-10 shoot-out win over Ghana in the final.

Another semifinal showing came in 1994, before a spell of limited success followed up until the 2006 tournament in Egypt, where they lost to the hosts in the final. This time it was they who were on the wrong end of a shoot-out result.

Amazingly though, they did need a 12-11 shoot-out result to beat Cameroon in the quarterfinals.

They will be hot favourites going into the 2010 championship in Angola, but will be wary of semifinal defeats once again, knowing that early tournament form counts for nothing if you cannot grind out the results at the knockout stage. (MTNFOOTBALL)

Goalkeeepers: Copa Barry (Beveren, Belgium), Benoit Zogbo (Maccaibi Netanya, Israel), Vincent Angban (ASEC)

Defenders: Kolo Toure (Manchester City-England), Soulaiman Bamba (Hibernian FC-Scotland), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Emmanuel Eboué (Arsenal-England), Guy Demel (Hambourg-Germany), Siaka Tiené (Valenciennes-France), Abdoulaye Méité (West Brom-England), Benjamin Brou (Budapest Honved-Hungary)

Midfielders: Didier Zokora (FC Sevilla-Spain), Yaya Toure (FC Barcelona-Spain), Koffi Romaric (FC Sevilla-Spain), Emmanuel Koné (International-Romania), Jean-Jacques Gosso (AS Monaco-France), Cheik Tioté (FC Twente-Holland), Bakary Koné (Olympique Marseille-France), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea-England)

Strikers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea-England), Kader Keita (Galatasaray-Turkey), Gervinho (Lille-France), Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth-England)

BURKINA FASO

Burkina Faso have been regular visitors to the Africa Cup of Nations finals since the mid-1990s, but the only time they have been out of the first round was when they hosted the tournament in 1998.

On that occasion they made it to the semifinals, losing there to eventual champions Egypt, and then going on to fall short in the third/fourth-place play-off in an amazing game with DR Congo that finished 4-4, but 4-1 to the Congolese on penalties.

The first time the country qualified for the continental show-piece was in 1978 when they were then known as Upper Volta, but it would be another 18 years before they made a return visit as they went out in the first round in South Africa in 1996.

They qualified for the next four tournaments up to 2004, but were missing from both the 2006 and 2008 tournaments.

Goalkeepers: Daouda Diakite (Arab Contractors, Egypt), Germain Sanou (Centre St Etienne de Bobo), Adama Sawadogo (ASFA Yennega) (MTNFOOTBALL)

Defenders: Ibrahim Gnanou (Alania Vladiskavkaz, Russia), Bakary Kone (En Avant Guingamp, France), Paul Koulibaly (Al Ittihad Tripoli, Libya), Moussa Ouattara (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Madi Panandetiguiri, Mamadou Tall (both Uniao Leiria, Portugal).

Midfielders: Wilfried Balima (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldavia), Charles Kabore (Olympique Marseille, France), Mahamoudou Kere (Charleroi, Belgium), Mohamed Koffi (Petrojet, Egypt), Abdoul Aziz Nikiema (Qingdao Jonoon, China), Jonathan Pitroipa (Hamburg, Germany), Florent Rouamba (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldavia), Wilfred Sanou (FC Cologne, Germany), Narcisse Yameogo (Mugan, Azerbaidjan),

Forwards: Habib Bamogo (Nice, France), Moumouni Dagano (Al Khor, Qatar), Yssouf Kone (CFR Cluj, Romania), Youssouf Ouattara (Uniao Leiria, Portugal), Patrick Zoundi (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany).

GHANA

It would be a surprising fact to many that Ghana have not won Africa's top prize for the past 28 years, and have in fact featured in only one final since 1982.

Click here for Ghana-Togo live

Given the strength of football in the west African country, it must surely be classed as underachievement and is something the Class of 2010 will hope to out right.

There was much expected for the side when they hosted the event two years ago, but despite some positive early signs, they were outclassed in the semfinals by Cameroon and had to settle for third place.

All-in-all the Black Stars have won four Nations Cup titles, the first two coming abck-to-back in 1963 and 1965, with two more in quick succession in 1978 and 1982.

But after that it makes fir poor reading, with just a final appearance in 1992 to show for their efforts, where they eventually went down in a mammoth penalty shoot-out to Cote d'Ivoire.

Recent form has been scratchy, though they did qualify for a first-ever World Cup finals in 2006 and followed that up with qualification for the 2010 event in South Africa as well.

TOGO

Togo will be making their seventh Africa Cup of Nations finals appearance, but have yet to make it out of the first round of the tournament.

Indeed, they have won just two of their 18 finals matches to date, conceding an unhealthy 32 goals in the process.

They qualified for their first tournament in 1972, re-appearing again only in 1984, before going underground again.

They have at least managed to bring some consistency to their appearances, having now qualified for five of the last seven tournaments, though they were conspicuous by their absence in 2008 in Ghana, especially having secured a shock berth at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The chance to make history and book a first quarterfinals appearance will be what drived the Togolese in Angola, though they were far from convincing in qualifying and really too heavily on goals from their one true world-class star, Emmanuel Adebayor. (MTNFOOTBALL)

Goalkeepers: Kossi Agassa (Istres, France), Kodjovi Obilale (Pontivy, France). Baba Tchagouni (Dijon, France)

Defenders: Serge Akakpo (Vaslui, Romania), Boussari Akinsola (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria), Eric Akoto (Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, Israel), Vincent Bossou (Maranatha Fiokpo), Kakla Eninful (US Monastir, Tunisia), Richmond Forson (Thouars, France), Abdoul Gafar Mamah (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldovia), Assimiou Toure (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Midfielders: Komlan Amewou (Stromgodset, Norway), Guillaume Brenner (Alki, Cyprus), Floyd Ayite (Nancy, France), Thomas Dossevi (Nantes, France), Serge Gakpe (Monaco, France), Sapool Mani (Al Ittihad, Libya), Alaixys Romao (Grenoble, France), Moustapha Salifou (Aston Villa, England), Junior Yao Seneya (Dubaa Al Husun, United Arab Emirates)

Forwards: Jonathan Ayite (Nimes, France), Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, England), Liyabe Kpatoumbi (ASKO Kara).

GROUP C - EGYPT, NIGERIA, MOZAMBIQUE, BENIN

EGYPT

Egypt are the undisputed kings of the Africa Cup of Nations having claimed a record six titles, including the last two, and they will be amongst the favourites again in Angola.

They have been quarterfinalists at least in each of the last eight tournaments bar one (2004), have they have managed to convert their dominance at club level on the continent over the past decade or so into success at national team level.

After claiming the first two tournaments in 1957 and 1959, there followed a clutch of semifinal showings as they reached that stage in six of the next 11 championships, without going any further.

They broke their long winless streak by claiming the 1986 championship, and repeated that 12 years later by beating South Africa in the 1998 final.

There followed a slight lull in performances before they confidently won the event they hosted in 2006, before repeating the performance two years later in Ghana.

What price a hat-trick? (MTNFOOTBALL)

Goalkeepers: Essam Al-Hadari (Ismaili), Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed (Zamalek), Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud (Mansoura).

Defenders: Wael Gomaa, Sayed Moawad, Ahmed Fathi (Ahli), Mahmoud Fathallah, Hani Saied, Mohamed Abdul-Shafi (Zamalek), Moatassem Salem (Ismaili), Ahmed Al-Muhammadi (ENPPI), Abdul-Zaher Al-Saqqa (Eskisehirspor, Turkey).

Midfielders: Ahmed Hassan (Ahli), Shikabala (Zamalek), Abdul-Aziz Tawfik (ENPPI), Ahmed Eid (Harras Hodoud), Hosni Abd-Rabou (Ahli, UAE), Hossam Ghaly (Nassr, Saudi Arabia).

Strikers: Emad Meteb (Ahli), Ahmed Raouf (ENPPI), Al-Sayed Hamdi (Petrojet), Geddo (Ittihad), Mohamed Zidan (Dortmund, Germany).

NIGERIA

Arguably the 'nearly-men' of African football, Nigeria have won the Africa Cup of Nations on two occasions, but have been runners up a further four times. In fact, they have been semifinalists 12 times, and their two victories signify an extremely poor conversion rate from there.

Click here for live Match Egypt v Nigeria

They first appeared in the tournament in 1963, when they bowed out in the first round, before having to wait until 1976 for their next showing, this time reaching the last four.

There followed a prosperous time in the country's football as they claimed the title in 1980 and 1994, finishing runners-up on three more occasions in between.

They chose not to particpate in the 1996 event in South Africa for political reasons, and were subsequently suspended from the 1998 tournament too.

Since then they have finished as runners-up (2000), semifinalists (2002, 2004, 2006) and quarterfinalists (2008), a worrying backward trend for the Super Eagles. (MTNFOOTBALL)

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel) Bamidele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel) Austin Ejide (unattached)

Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Danny Shittu (Bolton, England), Obinna Nwaneri , Yusuf Mohammed (both FC Sion, Switzerland), Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France) Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France).

Midfielders: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, England) Sani Kaita (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia) Yusuf Atanda Ayila (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Oluwaseyi George Olofinjana (Hull City, England), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain).

Strikers: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton, England), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga, Spain), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim, Germany)

MOZAMBIQUE

Mozambique will be featuring in their fourth Africa Cup of Nations finals at the tournament in Angola, hoping to register a first win in the competition.

Their three previous visits have all ended in first round exits, with just one draw and eight defeats to show for their troubles.

They did feature in consecutive tournaments in 1996 and 1998, but for a country ravaged by civil war, that was about as good as it got.

There first showing came in 1986 when they lost all three matches without scoring a goal. In fact, they have netted just twice while conceding 18 in their nine matches to date.

There will be hope that the Class of 2010 can do better, under Dutch coach Mart Nooij they have managed to put together some fine results of late, including beating Tunisia in their final World Cup qualifier in November. (MTNFOOTBALL)

Goalkeepers: Bino (Liga Muculmana), Kampango (Tersana, Egypt), Lama (Liga Muculmana)

Defenders: Campira (Desportivo Maputo), Dario Khan (Al Kharitiyah, Qatar), Fanuel (Liga Muculmana), Mexer (Desportivo Maputo), Miro (Platinum Stars, South Africa), Paito (FC Sion, Switzerland), Simao (Panathinaikos, Greece), Whisky (Ferroviario Maputo), Zainadine Junior (Desportivo Maputo)

Midfielders: Danito Parraque (Ferroviario Maputo), Dominques (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Genito (Nea Salamina, Cyprus), Goncalves Fumo (Olympiakos, Cyprus), Josimar (Costa dol Sol), Momed Hagy (Ferroviario Maputo), Nelinho (Desportivo Maputo), Ze Luis (Baladeyet Al Mahalla, Egypt)

Forwards: Helder Pelembe (Maxaquene), Dario Monteiro (SuperSport United, South Africa), Tico-Tico (Jomo Cosmos, South Africa).

BENIN

Benin can make history at the 2010 Nations Cup by collecting their first-ever point at the competition after two previous finals appearances have yielded six straight defeats.

Their small country size and population has made it difficult for them to be a regular contender in African competition but they have made better use of their growing contingent of foreign-based players.

Benin also hosted the 2005 African Youth Championship and their under-20 side qualified for that tournament in third place for the World Youth Championships in the Netherlands the same year.

Their first appearance came in the 2004 tournament in Tunsia, where they lost all three matches, but got a late consolation goal against Nigeria in their very last match through Moussa Latoundji to record a first finals goal.

They would have been hoping for better when they arrived in Ghana for the 2008 tournament, but unfortunately for them it was more of the same, three defeats in a row and just a single goal scored, this time through Nigerian-born striker Razak Omotoyossi against Cote d'Ivoire. (MTNFOOTBALL)

GROUP D - CAMEROON, GABON, ZAMBIA, TUNISIA

CAMEROON

Four-time winners Cameroon go into the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in red-hot form and looking to make up for the disappointment of their Final defeat in the last competition in Ghana two years ago.

Click here for Cameroon-Gabon live

They went down 1-0 to Egypt on that occasion, but under new French coach Paul Le Guen there is a new-found confidence in the Indomitable Lions and a belief that this could be their year.

One of the traditional powerhouses of the continent, they have qualified for all but one (1994) finals tournament since 1982, and in that time managed all four of their wins.

The 1980s were a fantastic period for the side and they claimed the 1984 and 1998 tournaments, with the core of that team going on to perform so admirably at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

The 1990s were not much to write home about, but the turn of the centruty saw the side once again dominate as they won consecutive championships in 2000 and 2002.

A couple of quarterfinal appearances followed, but for that finals disappointment in Ghana, which will be a spur if ever they needed one for the Class of 2010 to go all the way.

GABON

Gabon's most successful spell in their country's history came between 1994 and 2000, when they qualified for three out of the four Africa Cup of Nations finals, reaching the quarterfinals in 1996.

And they are something of a surprise as qualifiers for the 2010 event, but appear to have found a new lease of life and ran Cameroon close for World Cup qualification in their pool.

They have managed just one win in their seven finals matches to date, that a 2-0 success against a much-fancied Zaire side in 1996, but otherwise it has been hard slog for the country at the continental showpiece.

ZAMBIA

Zambia have gone out in the first round of five of the last six Africa Cup of Nations finals, having qualified for the event at all in 2004.

It is a frustrating run for a country that has a proud history in the tournament, though they have yet to put their name on the winners trophy yet, despite some close shaves.

They were runners-up in the 1974 competition, losing in the final to Zaire after a replay, and followed that up with another runners-up finish in 1994, the year after a tragic plane crash had killed 18 members of the playing squad.

There have also been some semifinal placings (1982, 1990 and 1996), but recent history has not been kind to Chipolopolo.

TUNISIA

Tunisia were a power in the early years of the Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the semifinals at their first try in 1962 and finishing runners-up in 1965.

But there followed 31 barren years, punctuated only by a semifinal appearance in 1978 and just two more first round exits.

They finished runners-up to hosts South Africa in 1996, and followed that up with a quarterfinal showing in 1998 and the semifinals in 2000.

But the country's finest hour in the competition came in 2004 as they beat Morocco 2-1 in the final of a tournament they hosted to achieve a maiden continental success.

Since then they have had a pair of quarterfinal finishes, and will be hoping to do better than that in Angola, to try and make up for the disappointment of missing out on a World Cup place on the final day of qualifying. They will play their 50th finals match in their first game in Angola.