GHANA

JOURNALISTS covering the MTN African Nations Cup finals here in Accra cannot agree which team is favoured to win this year’s edition of the continent’s premier competition.

Africa’s top football journalist Mark Gleeson, who is covering his ninth tournament in a row rates Senegal’s Lions of Teranga as the best in the pack.

“They are a big, strong and solid unit. In Mamadou Niang, a consistent scorer, El Hadji Diouf the captain of the team and Henri Camara back in favour, Senegal will be unstoppable,” Gleeson said.

South African photojournalist Gavin Barker who works with MTN football.com, and is covering his seventh tournament expects Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions to bounce back with a bang.

“It is Samuel Eto'o’s tournament. The Lions are always very dangerous when their heads are down,” said Barker.

Frank Simon of France Football, who is also covering his seventh Nations Cup is undecided.

“All the talk is about Ghana, Cote de Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon as obvious contenders. My heart says Ghana but difficult to predict,” he said.

Colin Udoh of Nigeria rates hosts Ghana.
“Ghana, Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire in that order are the favourites,” Udoh said.

Ghanaian Ibrahim Sannie who works for BBC Africa Sports is banking on Ghana and Cote d' Ivoire.
“If both nations top their respective groups, then the winners will come from the two,” he said.

With strikers like Didier Drogba, Aruna Dindane, Salomon Kalou, Boubacar Sanogo plus Bakari Kone, Ivory Coast are the most feared team.