All eyes within the continent of Africa and beyond will be focused on Ghana come the 20^th January. The standard of the tournament has only improved in recent years and each side boasts a glittering array of stars who ply their trade in the top European leagues. If you want to watch attacking flowing exciting football, you’ll struggle to beat the African Nations Cup.

Here our African correspondent Ibrahima Fode Ndiaye gives us a quick run through of the groups and teams battling it out.

Group A 

Ghana, Morocco, Guinea and Namibia make up an exciting lineup

Ghana: The hosts will be looking for their fifth title and with stars like Essien, Muntari and Appiah few would bet against them. The Black Stars will also have the backing of a wild and football crazy public.

Guinea: Traditional underdogs who always surprise, they will be looking to upset the hosts on the opening day and to finish ahead of Morocco as they did during qualification. Guinea will look towards their talismanic captain, the emblematic Saint-Etienne player Pascal Feindodo, and the skilful Fode Mansare to guide them to the latter stages.

Morocco: The North Africans are without a doubt another favourite for the title and their latest friendly games against the likes of France and Senegal would seem to confirm that the young Arabian team is amongst the elite of the continent.

Namibia: Definite whipping boys. Will be looking to spring a surprise in a group where few will give them a chance.

Group B

This is without a doubt the group of death with the overwhelming favourites Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the unpredictable Mali.

Nigeria: The Super Eagles will look for a great display from their solid group of experienced pros and young stars. The team will be centred around the young Chelsea midfielder Obi Mikel with Kanu and Martins upfront as they try to reclaim the title they last won in 1994.

Côte d’Ivoire: The Elephants have been waiting for only their second ever continental title and there seems to be no better time than this year. The likes Didier Drogba, Kolo Touré, brother Yaya Touré, Emmnuel Eboue, Abdel Kader, Keita and Kalou should take them far.

Mali: When you look at Kanouté and Keita from Seville, Diarra from Madrid and Liverpool’s Sissoko you know Mali has a team to upset the very best of the world football, never mind Africa. How they start will be all important.

Benin: The small nation will try to create one or two upsets in a very strong group.

Group C

The record title winners face off with Cameroon, Sudan and Zambia.

Egypt: What is there to say about the team from the land of the pyramids? They are the all time most successful team in the tournament with a record of five titles. Egypt can always count on their national league (the best in Africa) to produce talented players and school them in competitive football. An added incentive is that they are the reigning champions.

Cameroon: The country that made a splash in the World Cup of 1990 will look at Eto’o to fire them to a record equalling fifth African title in a group   where, alongside Egypt, few think they will have problem qualifying from.

Both Sudan and Zambia will be looking for an upset here, but it seems unlikely.

Group D

Tunisia, Senegal, South Africa and Angola make up a group of world cup participants.

Tunisia: Tunisia will be counting on Yacine Chikhaoui already labelled the next Zidane and the Brazilian born striker Santos for a second African title after the one won in 2004 on home soil.

Senegal: The shocks of Japan/Korea 2002 will pin their hopes on Marseille’s Niang, Diouf of Bolton, Camara of West Ham as well as Diomansy Kamara to form a lethal strike force. At the back they also look amongst the best in the tournament with Sonko of Reading, Diagne Faye and Beye of Newcastle, Diawara of Bordeaux and the Lille goalkeeper Tony Sylva .The midfield will be built around the big powerful Papa Bouba Diop of Portsmouth.

South Africa: Africa’s economic superpower will be without Benny McCarthy and will be trying to build up momentum for the forthcoming World Cup 2010. So Ghana 2008 is all about building and less about results.

Angola: The side that managed to get to Germany in 2006 will try hard to maintain that form and shock the more traditional big boys.

So for now in Africa the phrase is: let the games begin!