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African Cup of Nations 2008

First Published: Sun 10 Feb 2008

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African Cup of Nations 2008

Follow the progress of Barclays Premier League players in the African Cup of Nations, Ghana.

The tournament is Africa's equivalent of the European Championships, but is held every two years instead of every four. This year it's taking place in Ghana and kicked off on 20th January with the final to be played in Accra on 10th February.

The qualifiers for the event emerged from 12 groups and, like the European Championships, the tournament begins with four groups of four teams with the top two in each group progressing to the quarter finals.

The current holders are Egypt who defeated the Ivory Coast in the final two years ago when they were hosting the tournament. Egypt secured glory for a record fifth time, winning 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba missed one of the spot-kicks for the Ivory Coast.

top team

Cameroon and hosts Ghana also have a strong pedigree, both having four titles to their name since the inaugural tournament hosted by Sudan in 1957. Nigeria, who have won two titles, go into the event as the continent's top team in the Fifa rankings ahead of Cameroon.

There are a number of players from the Barclays Premier League taking part this year.

Chelsea's Drogba has recovered from injury and will be representing the Ivory Coast once again, alongside club-mate Salomon Kalou, Kolo Toure (Arsenal), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal) and Tottenham Hotspur's Didier Zokora.

Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari, who has impressed on the South Coast this season, plays for hosts Ghana alongside influential Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien.

crowned champions

Steven Pienaar has flourished in the Everton midfield since joining on loan from Borussia Dortmund and he will be representing South Africa, alongside Blackburn Rovers' Aaron Mokoena.

Pienaar's two Everton team-mates Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu will be involved in a bid to win a third title for Nigeria alongside Obafemi Martins of Newcastle United and Portsmouth's Kanu and John Utaka.

These are just some of the players to have travelled from England to Ghana. In all, 37 Barclays Premier League players will be bidding to see their team crowned champions of Africa in the final on 10th February:

Arsenal: Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Alex Song
Birmingham City: Richard Kingson, Mehdi Nafti, Radhi Jaidi
Blackburn Rovers: Aaron Mokoena
Bolton Wanderers: El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Meite
Chelsea: Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel
Derby County: Hossam Ghaly
Everton: Joseph Yobo, Ayegbeni Yakubu, Steven Pienaar
Fulham: Diomansy Kamara
Liverpool: Mohamed Sissoko, Nabil El Zhar
Manchester United: Manucho
Middlesbrough: Mohammed Shawky
Newcastle United: Obafemi Martins, Geremi, Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye
Portsmouth: Sulley Muntari, Papa Bouba Diop, Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka
Reading: Emerse Fae, Andre Bikey, Ibrahima Sonko
Sunderland: Dickson Etuhu
Tottenham Hotspur: Didier Zokora
West Ham United: John Pantsil, Henri Camara