2010 African Nations Cup Preview

Aside from the horrific drama which has hit the Togolese national team in Angola, there still is a tournament to be played and here's Sports Pundit's preview.

Group A

Angola
Current FIFA Ranking; 95
How Qualified; Hosts
2008 African Cup of Nations; Quarter finalists

Coach; Manuel Jose
Star Player; Manucho (Valladolid)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Flavio (Al-Shabab Riyadh), 3 goals

Prediction; Will battle to qualify through group despite home ground advantage

Algeria
Current FIFA Ranking; 26
How Qualified; 1st in Group C
2008 African Cup of Nations; Did not qualify

Coach; Rabah Saabane
Star Player; Karim Ziani (VfL Wolfsburg)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Rafik Saifi (Al-Khor), Antar Yahia (VfL Bochum), Karim Ziani (VfL Wolfsburg), all 3 goals

Prediction; Should top this group and may be able to go further

Malawi
Current FIFA Ranking; 99
How Qualified; 3rd in Group E
2008 African Cup of Nations; DNQ

Coach; Kinnah Phiri
Star Player; Chiukepo Msowoya (Deportivo Muculmana)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Chiukepo Msowoya (Deportivo Muculmana), 6 goals

Prediction; Major underdogs who will struggle

Mali
Current FIFA Ranking; 47
How Qualified; 3rd in Group D
2008 African Cup of Nations; 3rd in Group B

Coach; Stephen Keshi
Star Player; Seydou Keita (FC Barcelona)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Frederic Kanoute (FC Sevilla), 8 goals

Prediction; Will battle hosts Angola for a spot in next round, but should get through given their quality

Group B

Burkina Faso
Current FIFA Ranking; 49
How Qualified; 2nd in Group E
2008 African Cup of Nations; DNQ

Coach; Paulo Duarte
Star Player; Charles Kabore (Olympique Marseille)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Moumouni Dagano (Al-Khor), 12 goals

Prediction; Drawn in a tough group, will find it hard to get through

Ghana
Current FIFA Ranking; 34
How Qualified; 1st in Group D
2008 African Cup of Nations; 3rd-place

Coach; Milovan Rajevac
Star Player; Michael Essien (Chelsea)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda), 5 goals

Prediction; Battle royale between Ghana and Ivory Coast to top this through, but the Black Stars should still go deep into the tournament. One of the real favourites.

Ivory Coast
Current FIFA Ranking; 16
How Qualified; 1st in Group E
2008 African Cup of Nations; 4th-place

Coach; Vahid Halilhodzic
Star Player; Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Didier Drogba (Chelsea), 6 goals

Prediction; As previously mentioned, will have to fight Ghana for top spot in this group. But you fancy Ivory Coast could go all the way. My tip for winners.

Togo
Current FIFA Ranking; 71
How Qualified; 3rd in Group A
2008 African Cup of Nations; DNQ

Coach; Hubert Velud
Star Player; Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City), 5 goals

Prediction; Unfortunately Togo have withdrawn.

Group C

Benin
Current FIFA Ranking; 59
How Qualified; 2nd in Group D
2008 African Cup of Nations; 4th in Group B

Coach; Michel Dussuyer
Star Player; Stephane Sessegnon (PSG)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Razak Omotoyossi (Metz), 8 goals

Prediction; An outside chance for an upset here, but likely to miss out.

Egypt
Current FIFA Ranking; 24
How Qualified; 2nd in Group C
2008 African Cup of Nations; Winners

Coach; Hasan Shehata
Star Player; Mohamed Zidan (Borussia Dortmund)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Mohamed Aboutrika (Al-Ahly Cairo), 5 goals

Prediction; After missing World Cup qualification they'll be looking to make it three African Cups in a row, but it is probably beyond them. Still they should get through this group.

Mozambique
Current FIFA Ranking; 72
How Qualified; 3rd in Group B
2008 African Cup of Nations; DNQ

Coach; Mart Nooij
Star Player; Simao Mate Junior (Panathinaikos)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Dario (Supersport United), Tico-Tico (Jomo Cosmos), Domingues (Mamelodi Sundowns), 2 goals

Prediction; Haven't got the firepower in them and will struggle

Nigeria
Current FIFA Ranking; 22
How Qualified; 1st in Group B
2008 African Cup of Nations; Quarter finalists

Coach; Shaibu Amodu
Star Player; Joseph Yobo (Everton)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Victor Obinna (Malaga), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza), 4 goals

Prediction; The Super Eagles have plenty to work with and will get through this group but not far beyond

Group D

Cameroon
Current FIFA Ranking; 11
How Qualified; 1st in Group A
2008 African Cup of Nations; Runners-up

Coach; Paul Le Guen
Star Player; Samuel Eto'o (Internazionale)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Samuel Eto'o (Internazionale), 9 goals

Prediction; There's real quality here and Eto'o could take them to the title, but they may just fall short

Gabon
Current FIFA Ranking; 48
How Qualified; 2nd in Group A
2008 African Cup of Nations; DNQ

Coach; Alain Giresse
Star Player; Daniel Cousin (Hull City)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Roguy Meye (Ankaragucu), 4 goals

Prediction; Not a bad draw for Gabon has them a chance of sneaking through the group

Tunisia
Current FIFA Ranking; 53
How Qualified; 2nd in Group B
2008 African Cup of Nations; Quarter finalists

Coach; Faouzi Benzarti
Star Player; Karim Haggui (Hannover 96)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Issam Jemaa (Lens), 4 goals

Prediction; Gabon may challenge for second spot in this group, but Tunisia surely have the experience to progress. Not much further though.

Zambia
Current FIFA Ranking; 84
How Qualified; 3rd in Group C
2008 African Cup of Nations; 3rd in Group C

Coach; Herve Renard
Star Player; Isaac Chansa (Helsingborgs IF)
Topscorer in Qualifying; Francis Kasonde (Al-Suwaiq), Rainford Kalaba (Uniao Leiria), Chris Katongo (Arminia Bielefeld), Felix Katongo (Mamelodi Sundowns), 1 goal

Prediction; Scoring goals is Zambia's weakness and it'll be exposed here. Will battle.