Features

Stars aplenty in Angola

Author: John Harris
Date: 16/01/2010
Football betting

The Africa Cup of Nations has got off to a terrible start with the terrorist attack on the Togo squad, with tournament organisers hoping that the focus will remain on the pitch from now on.

Football in Africa has come on leaps and bounds in recent times and a number of world-class performers are expected to shine in Angola.

In Group A much is expected of a talented Mali squad, who have the likes of Freddie Kanoute, Seydou Keita and Mahamadou Diaraa among their ranks.

All three play their club football in Spain, with Kanoute a regular scorer at Sevilla since his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2005 - while Keita and Diarra remain valuable squad members at Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.

Group B has been cut to three teams following Togo's untimely departure from the competition, leaving the Ivory Coast and Ghana as the fancied teams.

The former have Chelsea's superstar striker Didier Drogba leading their attack, while he is backed up by a number of other Premier League stars, including the likes of Salomon Kalou, Kolo Toure and Aruna Dindane.

Drogba will be desperate to try and help his country land the Cup of Nations title for the first time since 1984, with the Elephants having lost in the semi-finals two years ago and the final in 2006.

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Ghana's Black Stars are another outfit expected to go a long way in the competition, with Drogba's Chelsea team-mate Michael Essien their star performer.

Having struggled with a hamstring injury in recent times, Essien will hope to recover in time to make a major impact, with Ghana having named a relatively inexperienced squad for the action in Angola.

Holders Egypt are in Group C and their squad will again be led by veteran striker Ahmed Hassan, who is one of the game's most-capped players of all-time.

Much will also be expected of Mohamed Zidan of Borussia Dortmund and Al-Ahly's Emad Moteab, who has been linked with a number of clubs in Europe.

Also in Group C are Nigeria, who have Wolfsburg ace Obafemi Martins and Everton's Yakubu among their strike options, as well as veteran Nwankwo Kanu, who remains one of his continent's biggest stars.

An experienced Cameroon squad are expected to progress from Group D, with the likes of veterans Rigobert Song and Geremi joined by emerging stars such as Arsenal's Alex Song.

However, their undoubted star is Internazionale striker Samuel Eto'o, who last season helped Barcelona to win both the Champions League and the Spanish League.

He has been the top scorer at both of the last two stagings of the Nations Cup and has also been named as African Player of the Year on three occasions.

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