Toure: Title tilt still a possibility for Arsenal

Kolo Toure believes he has a 'nasty' streak that can help Arsenal put their Barclays Premier League title bid back on track.

The Gunners head to Bolton tomorrow in their worst run of league form in nine seasons after taking only four points from the last five games to allow both Manchester United and Chelsea to overtake them at the top of the table.

Manager Arsene Wenger believes his side have paid a high price for some poor defensive displays - which was evident at Stamford Bridge last weekend where Toure and central partner William Gallas failed to deal with the threat of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as the Blues came from behind to win 2-1.

Ivory Coast international Toure, 27, has, though, been one of the most consistent performers since he came into the first team.

The mild-mannered African, who arrived at Highbury in February 2002, learned from legendary former Gunners such as Tony Adams and Martin Keown, who were renowned for their no-nonsense approach.

'One who really helped me a lot was Martin Keown,' Toure said, speaking in the April edition of the official Arsenal magazine.

'I have played with him several times and he helped me establish myself in the squad.

'He (was) always giving me advice, teaching me some of the intelligent things and also some nasty things you need to do in the game.

'Martin was an amazing player for Arsenal. He had a great career and had a good attitude on the pitch - he was always involved, always helping the team, always pushing people to encourage each other and raising the level because you can't rely on just one person to do that.'

Despite now trailing leaders Manchester United by six points - and one behind Chelsea - Arsenal are still not yet out of the title race, as key fixtures between the top three are still to come.

Toure accepts it is a tough battle for the championship, but insists the Gunners must focus only on their own performances rather than worry about what might happen elsewhere.

'It seems that this season the title race involves three teams and this shows that the league is really strong at the moment,' he said.

'But we have to concentrate on ourselves, and on what we have to do over the remaining games - if we win the rest of our games we will have a great chance of winning the title.'

Wenger reported a clean bill of health from those who returned from international duty to the training ground yesterday morning before he set off to the Emirates Stadium where French president Nicolas Sarkozy met Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

However, the Gunners will be missing full-back Bacary Sagna, set to be out for up to a month after suffering an ankle injury at Chelsea.

'It is a big blow because he has been a revelation for us, a fantastic player,' said Wenger, whose side face Liverpool three times in a week after the Bolton game as they resume Champions League action.

The Arsenal manager accepts his team must tighten up at the back if they are to put pressure on leaders United.

Wenger said: 'What we want to do is perform well as a team again and we know we can do that.

'At Chelsea we played okay, but we have to improve. Recently what punished us a lot is that defensively we have made big mistakes.'

Chelsea's Drogba unhappy with Grant tactics

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was unhappy with coach Avram Grant's tactical decisions in this week's 4-4 draw at Tottenham , it has been revealed.

The Daily Mail says Drogba approached a leading club official in the tunnel area at White Hart Lane and expressed his frustrations with the decisions that rocked the club's title aspirations.

Drogba was particularly upset by the timing of Joe Cole's substitution. The Chelsea winger had scored a wonder goal that seemed to have won the game for Grant's side and he had clearly been the best player on the pitch.

Drogba spoke to assistant manager Steve Clarke as the players left the field on Wednesday night and demanded to know "what was going on?"

That continued when he walked down the tunnel and he sought a leading club official for an explanation on how the club had "thrown away" maximum points.

What Is Happing To Arsenal

Arsenal fans tend to listen when Arsene Wenger speaks. Most recently, he said, "I feel the team fights, we came back again against ‘Boro and this team will fight until the end."

But for many, even the words of their esteemed manager will sound less than re-assuring when one analyses the fact that, barring Arsenal’s fantastic victory in the Champions League against AC Milan, there has been a real downturn in Arsenal’s results as of late.

Never mind that this run of games has seen the Gunners contrive to draw their last four Premiership games, in the process seeing a five point lead over Manchester United evaporate in to thin air. A more worrying prospect for the Arsenal fans will be the form their team is exhibiting as they enter the ‘business end’ of the season, with the team's next five fixtures undoubtedly determining whether the Gunners' three-season wait for a trophy is going to come to an end, or is to extend in agonising fashion.

The scale of the task facing the out-of-sorts Gunners over the next few weeks reads is massive. It starts next Sunday away to the team breathing down their necks in the table, Chelsea, followed by a long trip up North to face bogey team Bolton Wanderers, and then the first of three consecutive games against Liverpool, of which two Champions League Quarter Final games bookend Rafa Benitez’s side travelling to the Emirates for a vital league encounter.

Whilst this run of fixtures would unnerve even the most brazen of Arsenal supporters, the fact that there are worrying echoes of the Gunners' progress last season would seem to only exacerbate the anxiety of the Emirates faithful.

For it was at a similar stage last season when in the space of a few games Arsenal managed to crash out of the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, a Benni McCarthy thunderbolt sent them out of the FA Cup, Chelsea beat them in the Carling Cup final, and consecutive away day defeats to Everton and Liverpool put the final nail in the coffin of their Premiership challenge for the season.

Whilst the stunning performance of Wenger’s men at the San Siro against AC Milan stands as an example of how Arsenal can equip themselves in a style befitting any title winning team, when one watches the type of displays put in by the Arsenal players in the league in recent weeks then the alarm bells should be ringing loud and clear.

Gone, it would seem, is the breathtaking fluidity that delighted all that had the pleasure to watch Arsenal play, with shining lights such as Cesc Fàbregas and Emmanuel Adebayor on league form alone looking like jaded imitations of the players that started the season in such exciting style.

Furthermore, the injuries to Eduardo da Silva and Tomáš Rosický have seemed to really set the Gunners back, with Arsenal’s trophy push being seriously derailed from the moment that the promising partnership that was developing between Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo Da Silva was broken up so horrifically against Birmingham City.

Uncharacteristic mistakes have also begun to creep in, with a case in point being left back Gael Clichy who by twice criminally dawdling in the penalty box against Manchester City and Birmingham City cost the team goals. There was also his last minute infraction against Birmingham City leading to yet another draw, and of course the embarrassing on-pitch implosion of captain William Gallas.

These types of displays would seem to point to the undeniable fact that this youthful Arsenal team are starting to tire at the most vital stage of the season. The cumulative fatigue exhibited by Arsenal contrasts vividly to that of their rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, who are able to boast squads of much more depth.

For example, players of the calibre of Michael Essien, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba have found themselves on the bench in recent weeks for Chelsea, but the teams winning ways have prevailed.

With regards to Manchester United, the contrast between their squad strength and that of Arsenal’s was displayed in unequivocal fashion in the F.A Cup meeting between the two sides where both managers decided to rest key players. However, the Red Devils' second string simply annihilated their North London counterparts, knocking Arsenal out of the F.A. Cup, and in the process inflicting a 4-0 defeat that would have undoubtedly pleased Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea and Manchester United have also been able to win regularly when not playing anywhere near their maximum. This has not been the case as often for Arsenal, with a review of this weekend’s Premiership fixtures seeing Chelsea and Manchester United winning away to Sunderland and Derby County when playing nowhere near their best, whilst Arsenal dropped two potentially vital points at home to Middlesbrough.

This ability to claim all three points whilst performing well below your previous high standards is a key component of any title push. Arsenal must begin to exhibit this monotonous ability to win to significantly increase their chances of holding aloft the Premiership crown come May.

However , regardless of the poor Premiership form that Arsenal have exhibited in recent weeks, it would be incredibly churlish to write off any team that can boast players of the calibre of Kolo Touré, Cesc Fàbregas, Emmanuel Adebayor et al. when it comes to deciding who will be collecting the silverware on offer come seasons end.

It is not like Arsenal have stopped creating chances over the last few weeks, and supporters will point to dubious refereeing decisions such as Emmanuel Adebayor’s disallowed goal against Middlesbrough and the highly debatable penalty given against Birmingham City as more pertinent reasons for the side’s downturn in results.

Indeed, this Sunday’s visit to Stamford Bridge could provide the team with the perfect opportunity to correct the team’s disappointing results, and get the club’s Premiership title challenge back on track in the most dramatic of fashions.

CAN 2008 Preview: Ghana - Ivory Coast

Loser’s Final

Many soccer analysts had predicted that both the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and the Black Stars of Ghana would clash in Sunday’s final, but after two dramatic semi-finals encounters the tables have turned around spectacularly.

Both teams are meeting, but it’s the in third place playoff, or the losers' final!

Still In Shock

The shock around the Ohene Djan stadium after Alain Nkong’s goal gave the Cameroonians victory was tangible, with the hosts thus falling short at the second to last stage.

But to the neutral, such a sense of surprise could not even compared to that which pervaded the air in Kumasi when tournament favorites, the Ivory Coast were mercilessly dealt with by the defending Champions, the Pharaohs of Egypt.

The hosts have received the bulk of the coverage. Many Ghanaian supporters had expected their team to get to the final, so it was no surprise that defeat saw many verbal arrows fired in the direction of the squad and coach. Claude Leroy has been at the centre of many of these criticisms, with local journalists upset over his team selection for the game.

In all fairness to the well-traveled French coach, his options were quite limited, with several key players ruled out of the encounter.

Captain John Mensah had picked up a straight red card in the quarterfinal encounter against Nigeria, while Laryea Kingston and striker Asamoah Gyan were both ruled out due to injury.

The side therefore had only one out and out striker, Junior Agogo, while Michael Essien had to leave his natural midfield position to play as a makeshift central defender.

If the Ghanaians felt hard done by their loss, then the Ivorians surely did not know what hit them after the 90 minutes were over in Kumasi.

Kader Keita’s wonder strike was just about the only smiling point for the Elephants on the night, as Hassan Shehata’s wards ran riot. Didier Drogba was rendered an anonymous fellow, and the weak point of the Ivorians was exposed for the world to see.

Regaining Pride

In today’s game both teams will attempt to regain their pride, and the usual dull affair that characterizes third place playoff matches would be substituted for an entertaining match-up. The countries are neighbors and the stadium in Kumasi will likely be filled to capacity for the occasion.

In a further twist, both teams might attempt to give starting shirts to players who had been on the bench previously.

TEAM NEWS

Ghana

Coach Claude Le Roy will have his Captain John Mensah available for selection again, but Asamoah Gyan and Laryea Kingston are still very much doubtful to feature for the Ghanaians in this game.

Belgium-based defender Nana Kwasi Asare and local favorite Harrison Afful should get an opportunity to showcase their skills and talents.

Birmingham City goalkeeper Richard Kingston should remain in the number one jersey for the Black Stars, as Le Roy will be very much interested in winning this game.

The defensive line will witness the return of captain John Mensah, who should be assisted by Hans Sarpei, Harrison Afful and West Ham United’s wing back John Paintsil.

Michael Essien should return to his midfield role alongside Sulley Muntari, Ahmed Barusso of Galatasary and fan favorite Haminu Dramani.

Junior Agogo and Dede Ayew should hold the attacking line for the Ghanaians.

Ivory Coast

Coach Gerard Gili has an array of stars on his bench, and there is a direct replacement for every single position on the pitch available, save the goalkeeping role.

Barry Boubacar, who plays for Lokeren, suffered an injury in the first half of the game in Kumasi, with replacement Stephan Loboue not exactly covering himself in glory as a substitute. Nonetheless, he should remain in goal for the Elephants.

The defensive line should see the return of Marc Zoro, who will be joined by Emmanual Eboue, Arthur Boka and Abdoulaye Meite.

The midfield should feature Didier Zokora, Emersae Fae, AbdelKader Keita and possibly Christain Koffi Ndri.

In attack may be the much-sidelined Arouna Kone alongside Werder Bremen forward Boubacar Sanogo, with Drogba given a rest.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ghana

Michael Essien - The Chelsea player has been the strongest point forthe Ghanaians so far in the tournament, although the decision of Claude Leroy to shift him into the central defensive position in the last game took the bite out of the Ghanaian attack. He should return to his normal role today and bring back life to the Black Stars.

Ivory Coast

AbdelKader Keita - The Olympique Lyonnais man was all over the pitch during his team’s 1-4 loss to Egypt and crowned his efforts with an absolute screamer of a goal. Though the strike wasn’t enough for victory, he will want to make sure his efforts count for something in today’s encounter.

PREDICTION

This encounter is going to be a keenly contested affair, as both teams will want to leave the tournament with some form of dignity at the very least.

There will be lots of goals in this game as the players will want to give their all on the field of play.

I expect the Ivorians to clinch this one as they are more tactically disciplined than the Ghanaians. The strength of their bench is much deeper than that of the Black Stars, too.

The Ghanaians will give their best in front of their home fans, and would not want to disappoint them for a second time, but I don’t think mere resolutions will be enough to save them.

Ghana 1 - 3 Ivory Coast

Africa Cup of Nations Update : Ivory Coast 5 - 0 Guinea

Five-Star Ivory Coast Sail Past Guinea

Ivory Coast 5 - 0 Guinea While the scoreline slightly flatters the Ivorians, the Elephants are deservedly through to the semi-finals after a very convincing win over Guinea...

Despite being without influential captain Pascual Feindouno, Guinea ran the Ivory Cosat close for portions of this game, only to succumb to a late onslaught from the far superior Elephants.

In truth, Cote d'Ivoire 100% deserved their win, even though the margin of victory was something quite out of the ordinary based on the performance.

After a cagey start, Kalou and Drogba began to turn the screw, with the former having a great chance to open the scoring 13 minutes in. However, despite being unmarked, his effort was poor.

Dindane then came close with a header, although the opener was yet to come.

It eventually did 25 minutes in, when Kader Keita tiptoed into the box and, rather than play the ball across goal, battered it past Kemoko Camara and into the net, running into an inflatable Pepsi can located trackside by way of celebration.

Guinea were on the back foot, but they were able to hold out for the rest of the half.

Camara kept his side in it with a tremendous save from Aruna and then Kalou on the rebound, but the Syli Stars themselves brought out the best in Barry via a Bangoura solo effort on the counter.

But it was clear the the Ivory Coast were in the asendancy, closing the half with a Keita effort that rolled just wide and a tremendous save from Camara to deny Drogba.

After the break, though, Guinea improved further, and could have equalised when Youla was left unmarked to tip Bangoura's cross just wide on the volley.

On the hour mark, Jabi's effort hit the side-netting after a deep free-kick, and despite the Ivory Coast's clear superiority, it seemed that there was life in the Guineans' challenge yet.

However, there was not, for what followed was nothing short of a goal blitz.

Aruna Kone should have made it 2-0 after rounding the 'keeper 22 minutes from time, only to blast his effort wide, but Drogba made no such mistake two minutes later with a strong, solo run reminiscent of some of his better Chelsea goals.

Then Kalou emulated Kone by rounding the 'keeper, but the Chelsea man different from the Sevillista by being able to put the ball in the net, thus ending the game as a contest.

A contest, yes, but not a spectacle. Ten minutes from time, Guinea inexplicably stood off as Toure tore towards the touchline, eventually kutting it back for Kalou, who wasted nothing in claiming his second goal.

Then, Baki Kone made it 5-0 with a tremendous twenty-yarder, with punch-drunk Guinea having well and truly wilted in the face of enormous late pressure.

Essien Wants To Face Drogba In A Ghana-Ivory Coast Final

Chelsea team-mates Michael Essien and Didier Droigba would line up on opposing sides in Essien's 'dream' final of the African Cup of Nations.

Both Ghana and Ivory Coast won their opening group matches in the African Cup of Nations, keeping alive the possibility that the Black Stars could meet the Elephants in the final. And that is a p[rospect that appeals to Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien.

He would love to meet his Stamford Bridge buddy Didier Drogba, who captains Ivory Coast, in the final.

Essien's Ghana, who are hosting the tournament, secured a win in their opening game of the tournament when they beat Guinea 2-1 on Sunday evening.

Afterwards, midfielder Essien told Setanta of the burden of expectations that comes with being hosts:

“People think Ghana are favourites because we are playing at home but it doesn’t guarantee a win in any competition in the world,” Essien said.

“It is added pressure for the team but we are ready to fight to be champions. We have shown it during the first game against Guinea by playing until the end.”

Portsmouth star Sulley Muntari produced the stunning late finish by which Ghana defeated Guinea, but Essien, 25, is confident of getting beyond the group stages.

“If we watch the other groups and analyse the other teams, I think that our major ivals are Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria and Egypt. The winner will come from that quintet,” he said.

“A final against the Ivorians and with Didi [Didier Drogba] in the attacking lines would be a great battle on the field. Most of the players know each other from playing in Europe and it would make the game more intense.

“In the last few days at Chelsea Drogba told me to prepare myself because he is not going to offer us anything if we play each other in the Cup.

“The positive thing is that I know him well and I know some of his defects,” he said.

Nigeria 0 - 1 Ivory Coast

The Ivory Coast deserved their win over a Nigeria side that couldn't quite match the lustre of the Elephants...

Salomon Kalou's tremendous solo effort 66 minutes in separated the West African titans in a match that will have repercussions right until the tournament's end.

The Ivorians looked more disciplined and accomplished throughout, and while Nigeria may feel that they should have had a first half penalty, the Elephants' second-half showing was more than enough for the win.

Ghana versus Guinea may have caught the imagination of the hosting support, but this was the fixture that was to really seize the world's attention. Africa's number-one ranked team, the Super Eagles, facing off against tournament favourites Ivory Coast.

The players seemed up for the occasion from the outset, although there was little by way of nationalistic posturing between them. Instead, the European superstars who play with and against each other so regularly exchanged handshakes prior to the match.

Then hostilities began.

Any talk of a cagey opening was soon dismised as John Mikel Obi teed up Nigeria's centre-forward Kanu for a long-range effort, but the Portsmouth man's shot flashed just wide.

Long-range shots were largely the staple of the first half, with mixed results: Taye Taiwo was inches away from opening the scoring 16 minutes in with a thundering 35-yarder that hit the crossbar, while Yaya Toure brought out the best in Ejide with his own distant effort.

That shot twenty minutes in signalled the start of a period of Ivorian dominance in midfield, but Nigeria should through Utaka that they can be dangerous on the break: the powerful forward broke through on the half hour mark, but pulled his attempt wide.

The most dramatic moment of the half came through another Super Eagle surge forward. Obafemi Martins fell in the box under pressure from Gohouri, only to pick up a booking for his troubles. There did appear to be the slightest bit of contact, but the Tunisian referee was adamant that the Nigerian had taken a dive.

The tempo slowed as half time approached, with it far from apparent that there was a goal in the offing.

Ivory Coast boss Gerard Gili hooked the booked Gohouri in favour of Kader Keita of Lyon at half time, replacing defensive influence with forward in an attempt to turn the game.

However, there was surprisingly little action to shout about - a Danny Shittu header wide of the target notwithstanding - in the early stages of the second period, with the midfield battle the most engrossing part of play.

But when the goal eventually came, it was well worth waiting for, and it came from the boot of Salomon Kalou. The Chelsea forward weaved his way with power and aplomb all the way from the midfield to the centre of the area, where he slotted home from twelve yards. A mesmerising run - the ex-Feyenoord man cut inside past his marker, strode into the box, turned a lunging defender, and another, reached the penalty spot and finally launched a cool finish goalwards. A world-class goal, indeed.

What followed was a world-class miss. Keite did extremely well to break past Apam into the box, but steered his close-range effort wide when hitting the target would have been easier. 2-0 it wasn't.

Nigeria then attempted to take the initiative, but the Ivory Coast took advantage of the new spaces on the pitch to drive forward. Didier Drogba tried his luck with a 35-yarder, only to trundle his effort off the defence.

The Super Eagles threw the dice, with Odemwingie coming on for Utaka and then Martins trudging off to be replaced by Makinwa. But Berti Vogts' hopes of his side becoming the "Germany of Africa" seemed forlorn as the Ivory Coast again pressed their advantage.

Tight at the back, even the offensive influence of the now-attack-minded Nigerian defensive line couldn't ruffle the Ivorians overmuch, the active Taiwo finding himself frustrated on two occasions as he sought the final ball.

Belief was clearly on the wane in the Super Eagles camp, particularly after Yakubu's low shot - perhaps Nigeria's best chance of the second half - went wide.

Indeed, the Ivorians enjoyed the final chance of the game, with Kalou shooting off-target. He'd done enough already, though - more than enough.

Drop your comment on any of my posts let me know where I am getting it wrongh

CAN 2008 Preview: Ivory Coast - Nigeria

What: African Cup of Nations, Group B
Who: Ivory Coast vs Nigeria
When: Monday, 21 January 2008, 17:00 GMT
Where: Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi

This is arguably the biggest encounter in the group stages of the competition, and a great advert for African football. The first of the battle of the West Africans in Group B sees Nigeria, who are the number one FIFA ranked team in Africa, square off against the number one contender for the continental trophy.

There has been much hype and talk about this encounter and both teams will be under immense pressure to get something from the game.

The Ivorians won the last meeting between the two sides, thanks to that controversial Didier Drogba goal in one of the semi-final games at the last edition of the tournament in Egypt.

But for all the hype and history, it's hard to see this encounter producing the sort of sparks that is expected. It is going to be mainly a game of the defences: which one holds out longer, which one avoids making that silly mistake. That’s all it would take for a Didier Drogba, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Salomon Kalou or an Obafemi Martins to pounce and seal the encounter for his team.

The sides both know they are favorites to emerge from this group and will enter the game with a very cautious mindset, knowing failure to get something from this game would put them in a lot of pressure in their remaining group fixtures and all but kill off the possibility of sealing top spot.

That said, the sparks could start flying if a goal gets scored early in the game. The chasing team will come out and force the opponents into either lying back and defending or returning the attacks.

The result of this game will surely go along way in influencing who gets to qualify from the group. A loss for either Nigeria or the Cote d'Ivoire men will put them under immense pressure when they face the group’s other big gun, Mali.

I always regard the Ivorians as the “Dutch-team” of African football. Aside from their orange jerseys, they have that completeness that is lacking in several other African sides. They have a strong defence marshaled by Kolo Toure; a midfield that holds, creates, and moves; and an attack that parades some of the most potent strikers in world football.

The Elephants would most likely be playing a 4-4-1-1 formation, which has always favored burly striker Didier Drogba. The Nigerians are expected to retain a 4-3-3 setup that will seek to rely more upon the capabilities of their enviable strike force, with the pacy Martin looking to cause some problems for the Ivorians.

The midfield battle looks like a straight fight between Didier Zokora and Mikel Obi. These two players will surely determine the pattern and pace of play for their respective teams. Whoever gets to close one down would have effectively granted his team the upper hand.

FORM GUIDE

Cote d'Ivoire (full internationals only)

12 Jan 08 - Kuwait 0-2 Cote d'Ivoire (Friendly)
21 Nov 07 - Qatar 1-6 Cote d'Ivoire (Friendly)
17 Nov 07 - Angola 2-1 Cote d'Ivoire (Friendly)
17 Oct 07 - Austria 3-2 Cote d'Ivoire (Friendly)
08 Sep 07 - Gabon 0-0 Cote d'Ivoire (ANC Qual.)

Nigeria (full internationals only)

09 Jan 08 - Nigeria 2-0 Sudan (Friendly)
20 Nov 07 - Switzerland 0-1 Nigeria (Friendly)
17 Nov 07 - Australia 1-0 Nigeria (Friendly)
14 Oct 07 - Mexico 2-2 Nigeria (Friendly)
08 Sep 07 - Nigeria 2-0 Lesotho (ACN Qual.)

Who will win Ghana 2008?

Exactly a week today, the 26th edition of Africa's elite national competition will kick off in Ghana. It is there that the continent's 16 best teams will do battle for the title of 2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations champions and the right to represent the region at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Such have been the advances made by African football over recent years, with this month's tournament showcasing several of the world's foremost players, that it is almost universally expected that this Cup of Nations will be the most entertaining and keenly contested yet. Yet while it is generally accepted that the likes of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Michael Essien and Obafemi Martins are poised to serve up a mouth-watering feast of football, the question remains: who will emerge triumphant?

Home advantage has proved decisive in the last two editions, with Tunisia and Egypt claiming the trophy in 2004 and 2006 respectively, and the bookies currently make Ghana narrow favourites to continue this trend. The Black Stars certainly impressed everyone with their performances at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ and despite the absence of the influential Stephen Appiah, will doubtless be tipped by many of our users to claim their fifth Cup of Nations crown.

That would see them draw level with Egypt at the top of all-time standings, and the holders themselves could yet prove a force to be reckoned with, despite failing to impress during qualifying. Others, however, will view Côte d'Ivoire - 2006's beaten finalists - as a more formidable proposition, with the imperious Drogba at the forefront of the Elephants' impressive array of attacking talent.

What's your view? Do you think the Ivorians can add to their solitary Cup of Nations title? Of perhaps you believe the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, with Eto'o fit once again, are better placed to add to their four previous continental crowns by claiming gold in Ghana?

Nigeria will also be strongly fancied, while Angola, Senegal, Tunisia and 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts South Africa are all seen as having a realistic chance of advancing to the latter stages. Do you expect one of them to emerge with the trophy?

What about the prospect of an upset? Pascal Feindouno has spoken to FIFA.com this week about Guinea's belief that they can shock the football world, and Benin, Mali, Namibia, Sudan and Zambia will also be aiming to prove that they aren't travelling to Ghana simply to make up the numbers.

It's time to nail your colours to the mast. Just click below on 'add your comment' and tell us who you believe will crowned be Kings of Africa.

Chelsea chair blasts African Nations Cup

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has called on FIFA to deal with the 'craziness' of the international calendar as the club prepare to lose four players to the African Nations Cup in January.

The Blues go into their opening game of 2008 with eight players on the treatment table, including Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, but with Mikel John Obi, Salomon Kalou and Michael Essien all fit.

These four, assuming Drogba recovers from his knee surgery in time, will head off to Ghana to play in the finals and leave Chelsea's squad even more depleted.

Captain John Terry, goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, plus Claude Makelele, Andriy Shevchenko, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard and Drogba are all sidelined and none are likely to return against Fulham tomorrow.

The African Nations Cup will increase the pressure on Grant to make swift moves into the transfer market during the January window, but Buck hopes that FIFA can solve the problem in the future.

Buck said: 'We will lose several players to the African Nations Cup. This is unfortunate because it is a very difficult time of the season and we will need all of our players to help.

'We do recognise, however, that a player's greatest honour is to play for his country and we have to respect that.

'We can only hope that FIFA will stop some of this craziness in the years ahead and adjust the calendar so that club football is not continually interrupted and disrupted for international events when a better thought-out calendar could solve these anomalies.'