Elephants going for the jugular

With defending champions Egypt, five-time winners Cameroon and Nigeria missing from the 2012 Africa Nations Cup, Cote d’Ivoire have the best chance to win their second continental crown.

But to navigate to the finals, they have to go through one tough group that has Sudan, Angola and Burkina Faso. On paper, it may look like an easy group but after the Elephants fluffed in the last Nations Cup when they were eliminated by Algeria in the quarter-finals, they know they cannot take their opponents lightly.

Cote d’Ivoire

Only one African title to show is a total mockery of the country’s immense endowment in talent.

The Elephants beat Ghana in 1992 in Senegal to win the African title but the closest they have come since was in 2008 when they lost in the finals by Egypt.

The Ivorians again head into this Nations Cup as one of the favourites. But in recent years the star-studded line-up has frequently under-performed despite being the continent’s top-ranked team.

Coach Francois Zahoui has warned his charges against complacency.

“In Cote d’Ivoire we’ve got a big problem – we don’t respect our opponents,” he said. “When we go to a Cup of Nations people say ‘Oh no, this team aren’t there, this team aren’t there’ and each time people are disappointed because we go as the super-favourite and then come back disappointed.”

It will be interesting to see how Didier Drogba will perform given his poor showing over the past season at his club Chelsea.

But with Yaya Toure in top form, coach Zahoui has all reasons to look forward to a good tournament.

Angola

Angola made it on the last day of the qualifiers after beating Guinea Bissau by a solitary goal. Until then, it was Uganda who looked likely to qualify had they beaten Kenya in the final game in Kampala.

And going to the Nations Cup, the Palancas Negras must up their game if they harbour any hope of making it to the quarter-finals.

When the draws pitted Angola with Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, coach Lito Vidigal said it is one of the most difficult groups.

“The most important thing is to work to improve the previous results. All opponents are equal and there is not much to separate them,” he said.

Sudan

Sudan is the only nation from the East and Central African bloc to make it to the finals. They may appear to be the weakest in this group but coach Mohamed Abdallah believes his side can make it to the quarter-finals.

They have not won a game at their past three Nations Cup, their last victory having come in the 1970 final.