IVORY Coast and Burkina Faso will go head to head in the African Nations Cup Group B opener at the Estadio do Cabinda today looking to return the focus to on-field events following Togo’s departure from the competition.

The build-up to the continental event in Angola has been overshadowed by the gun attack on the Togolese team bus on Friday.

Togo, who were scheduled to take on Ghana in the second Group B match today, flew home yesterday on the advice of their national authorities, leaving the tournament in disarray.

Togo midfielder Alaixys Romao claimed Chelsea’s Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was “not ready” to play in the competition.

The Grenoble player said: “Drogba said he was fully aware of the psychological state he was in, and he too was not ready to play this CAN.”

The Elephants head into the competition as favourites, just as they did two years ago when they bowed out at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Egypt.

Drogba, speaking earlier this week before the attack on the Togo team bus, was determined there would be no repeat of such complacency.

“We will treat every opponent with respect, humility and seriousness,” the 31-year-old said.

“There is no room for complacency like in Ghana. No game is won in advance.”

Ivory Coast’s Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic will face another European today in Burkina Faso’s Portuguese manager Paulo Duarte.

Burkina Faso have improved steadily over the past couple of years under the guidance of Duarte, who until recently combined the role with that of Le Mans coach, but suffered 3-2 and 5-0 defeats to the Ivorians last year in World Cup qualifying.

Today’s fixtures

Group A

Malawi v Algeria (1.45pm)

Group B

Ghana v Togo - off

Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso (4pm)

(Both games are live on Eurosport)