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IF I had to predict the winners of the African Nations Cup I would go for the Ivory Coast.

The Elephants' are in Group B with Nigeria, the tournament's Group of Death, and are managed by Berti Vogts.

In Didier Drogba, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Salomon Kalou, they have more household names than most. With players like Obafemi Martins, Mikel Jon Obi and Yakubu Ayegbeni, Nigeria also have plenty of cause for optimism.

And, with Frederic Kanoute - now of Seville - in their attack, Mali should not be underestimated either.

Ghana and Senegal will be serious contenders and I also expect Morocco, Egypt, Cameroon and Tunisia to qualify for the quarter finals.

Losing Steven Appiah to injury is a big blow to Ghana but in Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari, the Black Stars have the talent to make up for the loss of their captain. As the current holders with a record five African Nations Cup titles, nor should Egypt.

But you will have gathered that I am not getting my hopes for South Africa too high.

I've lived out here since 1990 - the year Cameroon's World Cup performances brought African football into the spotlight - and will be supporting them throughout their interest in the biggest African Cup of Nations to date.

But it will be a success if they reach the last eight..

Leaving out Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is a decision that the manager, Carlos Alberto Parreira, may well regret. I do not understand why he has done it. Throughout the build-up to the tournament, Perriera insisted that winning the 2010 World Cup is the be all and end all.

He wants to prepare for the big one in two years' time because failing to go beyond the group stage of the World Cup as the hosts would be a disaster.

That is why a relatively young side will take the field when the Bofana Bofana' play their first game of the African Nations Cup against Angola on Wednesday.

But room should have been made for McCarthy. He is only 30 and should still have plenty to offer when the World Cup is hosted in Africa for the first time. There is plenty of young talent in the South Africa squad but not much more coming through.

You will already know about Steven Pienaar, the Everton midfielder, but wing-back Bryce Moon, who plays for Ajax of Cape Town, a club affiliated to Ajax of Amsterdam, is another to look out for.

The captain, Aaron Mokoena, is another who needs little introduction now that he has been at Blackburn Rovers for a few years. But midfielder Teko Modise, who plays over here for the Orlando Pirates, is also one to watch.

In the absence of McCarthy, whose 28-goal haul for South Africa remains a national record, 32-year-old Sibusiso Zuma will provide the experience in attack.

9:50am Wednesday 23rd January 2008

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