Can Ghana make home advantage count

With vociferous home support and following their first ever qualification for a World Cup finals in 2006 in Germany where the Black Stars beat the Czech Republic and the United States before losing to Brazil in the second round, expectations are high.

 As one of the tournament favourites Ghana will expect to top a group that also consists of Namibia and Morocco.

 However, the team will sorely miss inspirational captain Stephen Appiah, who misses the tournament after failing to recover from a knee injury.

 Without Appiah in midfield, the pressure on Chelsea star Michael Essien to perforn will be even greater as well as Laryea Kinston, John Mensah and Suley Muntari.

 Coach Claude Le Roy, who led Cameroon to the African Cup of Nations in 1988, has also included Dutch-born striker Quincy Owusu- Abeyie in his squad after the former Netherlands Under-20 star was cleared to play by football's ruling body FIFA.

 Another player to watch is striker Kwadwo Asamoah, who only made his Black Stars debut two months ago and will move from Ghana's Liberty Professionals to Serie A side Udinese when the 16-team tournament ends.

 Ghana's arch-rivals Nigeria will have to hit the ground running in Group B as Berti Vogts' side's opening match is against fellow title hopefuls the Ivory Coast.

 Portsmouth striker Nwankwo Kanu will captain the Super Eagles on his fifth appearance at a Nations Cup while Chelsea's John Obi Mikel will add bite in midfield. Nigeria often face bonus problems at tournaments so if this issue can be avoided, the team, which features eight Cup of Nations debutants, can do well.

 None of the 23 players selected by Vogts ply their trade in Nigeria but with a defence featuring Everton's Joseph Yobo and attacking Marseille left back Taye Taiwo, the Super Eagles should easily secure one of the two qualification spots at the expense of Mali and Benin and alongside the Ivory Coast.

 The Elephants narrowly lost the 2006 final to Egypt in a dramatic penalty shootout and also made their first appearance at the World Cup in 2006.

 A shadow has been cast over the team's preparations with coach Uli Stielike returning to Germany to be with his critically ill son, meaning Frenchman Gerard Gili moves up from his post with the Under- 23s to take charge.

 Captain Didier Drogba is lacking match fitness as he returns from knee surgery but the Elephants can also rely on his Blues team-mate Salomon Kalou, Lyon's Abdul Kader Keita and the Kone brothers Arouna and Bakari.

 Throw in Barcelona's Yaya Toure and a defence built around Arsenal stars Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue and it is hardly surprising that most people expect the Ivory Coast to be there or thereabouts in the final stages of the tournament.

 Group C features holders Egypt alongside Cameroon, Zambia and Sudan.

 Egypt will be without injured Middlesbrough striker Mido and midfielder Hossam Ghaly for their title defence, which begins against four-time winners Cameroon on January 22 in Kumasi.

 Defender Ibrahim Said has been included despite a knee injury while Anderlecht midfielder Ahmed Hassan will be playing in a record- equalling seventh tournament.

 Cameroon should have no problems qualifying from a weak group but their title hopes will rest on Samuel Eto'o, although there are doubts about his fitness as the Barcelona striker only returned from a long term injury last month.

 New German coach Otto Pfister, who previously guided Togo to the 2006 World Cup finals, has only been in the job three months and as well as Eto'o has in Espanyol's Carlos Idriss Kameni one of Africa's best goalkeepers at his disposal.

 Tunisia, Senegal, Angola and 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa make up Group D.

 Senegal captain El Hadji Diouf believes his side, which also features Portsmouth's Pape Bouba Diop, Diomansy Kamara of Fulham and Marseille striker Mamadou Niang, can go one step further then the country's previous best finish of runners-up in 2002 and finally win the tournament.

 "I have a real desire to win. For me, the African Nations is as important as the World Cup," said the Bolton Wanderers star.

 The Bafana Bafana, meanwhile, will use the tournament to continue preparing their squad for the 2010 World Cup on home soil while also hoping to erase the memories of the 2006 edition when they failed to score a goal.

 Former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is now at the helm but will be missing striker Benni McCarthy. Orlando Pirates stars Excellent Walaza and Teko Modise will be looking to show they can shine on the international stage.

By Peter Auf der Heyde, dpa