Nations Cup overview

POTENTIAL WINNERS

It's a fairly open field. And the conditions in Equatorial Guinea will prove a serious leveller. But the likes of Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Algeria are my picks to win it.

Algeria, despite their good form, have a poor record in West Africa and won't be helped by the taxing conditions.

It is in those sort of conditions that the likes of Cameroon and Ghana thrive. Cote d'Ivoire are currently a little hit and miss. If they are to win, will need Yaya and co to really hit heights that they have so far been reluctant to.

DARK HORSES

Burkina Faso have shown remarkable consistency over the last two years and maintain the core of the squad which reached the Final last time out.

Senegal have so much competition for places that it's a struggle to get in the first team. If they can just convert those to wins.

Guinea have overcome serious adversity and will draw motivation from being in a group where not much is expected

Tunisia may be equally susceptible to the West African affliction, but they have enough quality and strength of character to overcome

SURPRISE PACKAGE

Cape Verde.

Surprised even themselves by qualifying for, then reaching the quarterfinals of the last tournament, where they were unlucky to be eliminated.

Have continued to make steady progress and qualified top of their group winning four of 6 games.

Opponents be afraid. Be very afraid.

WATCH OUT FOR

Malick Evouna. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is undoubtedly the star of theGabonese team. But look to Wydad Casablanca's Evouna as the man go make Aubameyang and others glitter.

Fereborey Dore

Football is replete with plenty of big, strapping men with touch. That's much more than most of us in the media would have you believe. Kanu, Crouch, Berbatov, Zlatan, Dzeko. The list rolls on.

Here's another that should add to that list. Ferebore Dore. He's 6'4" of pure football witchery.

Fakhreddine Ben Youssef  

Another big man with spellbinding ability. Rangy and deceptively languid, the bean pole forward from CS Sfaxien is as quick as he is skilled, with a touch of velvet, a burst of pace and the finishing of a Japanese katana.

Watch for some long range ballistics.