Scroll down to read our short pen pics on each team in the Cup and how we think they'll do, then post your views in the aboutaball African Nations Cup Forum.

Aboutaball African Cup of Nations Special Content
African Nations Cup Forum
Past African Nations Cup Winners
Groups
Fixtures/Results/Groups
- Group A
- Group B
- Group C
- Group D
Top Scorers

Official Sites
CAF African Nations Cup Site


Predictions and team reviews
Group A

DR Congo
Exciting Newcastle forward Lomana Tresor Lua Lua is the stand-in captain as Mick Wadsworth is missing Shabani Nonda who is out with a long standing knee injury. They won the Cup in 1974 when know as Zaire, but they don't really stand much chance this time round! I predict them to finish second in their group.

Prediction : Quarter Final
Man to watch : Lomana Tresor Lua Lua

Tunisia
Roger Lemerre's Tunisia host the tournament and will be hoping to impress in front of home support. Their solid team should do well especially now they'll have the assistance of the talented Brazilian-born forward Francileudo dos Santos.

Prediction : Semi Final
Man to watch : Francileudo dos Santos

Guinea
With former Arsenal star Kaba Diawara and Celtic's Momo Sylla not being called up, Guinea will be relying greatly on Dianbodo Balde to keep things tight at the back.

Prediction : Out in the group stage
Man to watch : Titi Camara

Rwanda
Tough coach Ratomir Dujkovic guided Rwanda to the finals at the expense of Ghana who were in their qualifying group. Having taken such a scalp they can't be discounted.

Prediction : Out in the group stage
Man to watch : Jimmy Gatete

Group B

Senegal
The Teranga Lions' will be looking to build on their strong performance in the last World Cup. Following the Cup a host of their stars moved to big European clubs and they'll hope that this has a positive effect on the national team. Unfortunately most of them went to Liverpool… The names of El Hadji Diouf and Pape Malick Diop will no doubt be on everyones lips again this tournament.

Prediction : Final
Man to watch : El Hadji Diouf

Kenya
On of the weaker nation in the tournament, I expect them to struggle with their star striker being a 35 year old playing in Belgium called Mike Okoth. Keep an eye on the youngster Dennis Oliech.

Prediction : Out in the group stage
Man to watch : Dennis Oliech

Mali
They had a good tournament as hosts last time round and will be spurred on by the late inclusion of Frederic Kanoute of Spurs and Mohamed Lamine Sissoko or Valencia in the Squad.

Prediction : Surprise Semi-Final
Man to watch : Freddie Kanoute (Will be star of the tournament)

Burkina Faso
Another fairly weak football nation, they qualified ahead of The Congo but I expect them to struggle. The game versus Kenya will be interesting.

Prediction : Out in the group stages
Man to watch : Abdoulaye Cisse (if he recovers from injury)

Group C

Cameroon
Always very strong and will be again even though they're missing Lauren of Arsenal and the late Marc-Vivien Foe. Wearing a bizarre all-in-one outfit shouldn't hamper the big names like Mettomo, Wome, Djemba Djemba, Olemba, Eto'o and co.

Prediction : Semi Final
Man to watch : Samuel Eto'o

Zimbabwe
The warriors are taking part in their first ever African Nations Cup Final and with 10 player selected from their domestic league expect them to struggle. Although you can bet captain Peter Ndlovu will entertain the crowd with a trick or two. Prediction : Out in the group stage

Man to watch : Peter Ndlovu

Egypt
The strong Egyption side will be missing Captain Hany Ramzy who hasn't made the squad due to prolonged injury troubles. Most of the squad is made up of domestic players who play for the strong Egyptian side Zamalek but keep your eye out for the young Marseille Forward Mido.

Prediction : Quarter Final
Man to watch : Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam

Algeria
The North Afticans will put up a strong challenge but I feel Egypt will edge them to second in the group. They have no well known star players although Troyes striker Nassim Akrour may be by the end of the tournament.

Prediction : Out in group stage
Man to watch : Nassim Akrour

Group D

Morocco
In every tournament you get a "group of death", group D in this years African Cup of Nations is the group of death! With most of their squad coming from Europe Morocco have high hopes for the tournament, with a strong defense including Naybet and some exciting attackers they'll give Nigeria and South Africa a fright.

Prediction : Quarter Final
Man to watch : Jawad Zairi

Nigeria
The Super Eagles will once again be one of the favorites for the tournament, the question is can they keep their discipline against the arguably better organized Cameroonian and Senegalese teams. I expect the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha, Aghahowa and Kanu to light up the tournament and with Yobo commanding the defense this could be the Eagles year.

Prediction : Winners
Man to watch : Jay-Jay Okocha

South Africa
The Bafana Bafana are a team in crisis, they've sacked their coach just before the tournament and are missing key players like Quinton Fortune and Benni McCarthy. Their star player and captain Mbulelo Mabizela can't even get a regular game at Spurs, I believe these factors alone will see Morocco edge them in the group stage.

Prediction : Out in the group stage
Man to watch : Jacob Lekgetho (a superb defender based in Russia)

Benin
The Squirrels did well to qualify but the best result for the would be if the club less Laurent D'Jaffo impresses enough to get himself a new job.

Prediction : Out in the group stage
Man to watch : Oumar Tchomogo

Groups

ACN 2004 Group A- fixtures
Tunisia
Rwanda
DR Congo
Guinea

ACN 2004 Group B- fixtures
Senegal
Burkina Faso
Kenya
Mali

ACN 2004 Group C- fixtures
Cameroon
Algeria
Zimbabwe
Egypt

ACN 2004 Group D- fixtures
Nigeria
Morocco
South Africa
Benin

GROUP A Fixtures / Table

24th January 1830
Tunisia 2-1  Rwanda
Rades

25th January 1300
DR Congo 1-2  Guinea
El Menzah

28th January 1300
Rwanda 1-1 Guinea
Bizerte

28th January 1515
DR Congo 0-3 Tunisia
Rades

1st February 1300
Guinea 1-1 Tunisia
Rades

1st February 1300
DR Congo 0-1 Rwanda
Bizerte

Team	PLD	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Tunisia	3	2	1	0	6	2	7
Guinea	3	1	2	0	4	3	5
Rwanda	3	1	1	1	3	3	4
DR Congo	3	0	0	3	1	6	0

GROUP B Fixtures / Table

26th January 1300
Kenya 1-3 Mali
Bizerte

26th January 1800
Senegal 0-0 Burkina Faso
El Menzah

30th January 1300
Senegal 3-0 Kenya
Bizerte

30th January 1800
Burkina Faso 1-3 Mali
El Menzah

2nd February 1300
Mali 1-1 Senegal
El Menzah

2nd February 1300
Kenya 3-0 Burkina Faso
Bizerte

Team	PLD	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Mali	3	2	1	0	7	3	7
Senegal	3	1	2	0	4	1	4
Kenya	3	1	0	2	4	6	3
Burkina Faso	3	0	1	2	1	6	1

GROUP C Fixtures / Table

25th January 1530
Zimbabwe 1-2 Egypt
Sfax

25th January 1800
Cameroon 1-1 Algeria
Sousse

29th January 1530
Cameroon 5-3 Zimbabwe
Sfax

29th January 1800
Algeria 2-1 Egypt
Sousse

3rd February 1300
Egypt 0-0 Cameroon
Monastir

3rd February 1300
Zimbabwe 2-1 Algeria
Sousse

Team	PLD	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Cameroon	3	1	2	0	6	4	5
Algeria	3	1	1	1	4	4	4
Egypt	3	1	1	1	3	3	4
Zimbabwe	3	1	0	2	6	9	3

GROUP D Fixtures / Table

27th January 1300
Morocco 1-0 Nigeria
Monastir

27th January 1700
South Africa 2-0 Benin
Sfax

31st January 1700
Benin 0-4 Morocco
Sfax

31st January 1300
South Africa 0-4 Nigeria
Monastir

4th February 1700
South Africa 1-1 Morocco
Sousse

4th February 1700
Benin 1-2 Nigeria
Sfax

Team	PLD	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Morocco	3	2	1	0	6	1	7
Nigeria	3	2	1	0	6	2	6
South Africa	3	1	1	1	3	5	4
Benin	3	0	0	3	1	8	0

Quarter Finals
7th February 1600 QF1
Tunisia 1-0 Senegal
Rades

7th February 1400 QF2
Mali 2-1 Guinea
El Menzah

8th February 1300 QF3
Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
Monastir

8th February 1600 QF4
Morocco 3-1 Algeria
Sfax

Semi Finals
11th February 1500 SF1
Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (5-3 on penalties)
Rades

11th February 1800 SF2
Mali 0-4 Morocco
Sousse

Final
14th February 1400
Tunisia 2-1 Morocco
Rades

Top Scorers in the African Cup of Nations

Name	Country	Goals
Patrick Mboma	Cameroon	4
Frédéric Kanouté	Mali	4
Francileudo Dos Santos	Tunisia	4
Augustine Okocha	Nigeria	4
Peter Ndlovu	Zimbabwe	3
Titi Camara	Guinea	3
Odemwingie	Nigeria	3
Youssef Hadji	Morocco	3
Youssef Mokhtari	Morocco	3
Marouane Chamakh	Morocco	3
Mamadou Niang	Senegal	2
Siyabonga Nomvethe	South Africa	2
Modest Mbami	Cameroon	2
Achiou Hocine	Algeria	2
Mahamadou Diarra	Mali	2
Pascal Feindouno	Guinea	2
John Utaka	Nigeria	2
Youssef Safri	Morocco	2
Zied Jaziri	Tunisia	2