Senegal among quartet favoured to win title

Capetown: Senegal have never won the Africa Cup of Nations but after a series of devastating performances in the qualifers are among the favourites in what is viewed as one of the most open tournaments in decades.

Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Morocco are also touted as leading challengers as the absence of several of the continent's perennial favourites from the 2012 finals, which kick off tomorrow, presents the possibility of change in the pecking order of the African game.

Senegal, who came within a penalty kick of winning the title 10 years ago, have emerged from the qualifiers as the form team after securing top spot in their group with two matches still to play.

Their squad is full of talent and boasts a frontline of Moussa Sow, top scorer in Ligue 1 last season, and Pape Demba Cisse, who was runner-up in the Bundesliga scoring stakes.

They present a formidable proposition at the three-week tournament, co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

"But we can do better and we are going to increase the level of attacking intensity," said coach Amara Traore after a win over Kenya's under-23 team in a warm-up game.

Of the quartet of favourites, Senegal are the only country never to have won before but the others have not exactly been swimming in a sea of success lately.

The Ivorians' only Nations Cup triumph was 20 years ago and it is 30 since Ghana won the last of their four titles. Morocco are seeking to revive past glories which include a solitary Nations Cup title in 1976 and four appearances at the World Cup finals.

Wide open

"It is a tournament which is wide open, there could be lots of shocks and twists for the spectators to enjoy," predicted former South Africa coach Trott Moloto, who took his side to third place in the 2000 edition.

The Ivory Coast had been heavily fancied at the last three tournaments but fell short of expectations.

"We will again be favoured despite the presence of several dangerous outsiders and the two co-hosts and it is a status that we need to manage psychologically better," coach Francois Zahoui told reporters in Abu Dhabi this week.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is again the central figure in the team, even if compatriot Yaya Toure was named African Footballer of the Year last month.

After disappointing in the last three editions, Drogba will be under close scrutiny as the 33-year-old is running out of time in his search for honours at national team level.