2008 African Cup of Nations:With Africa's premier soccer tournament due to kick-off tomorrow, Matthew Spiroruns the rule over the teams considered to be the main title contenders in Ghana, as well as those likely to be merely 'also-rans'

It may be the time of year top-flight club managers are growing to dread, but, more than anything, the next three weeks represent a wonderful opportunity for Africa to be seen in a positive light by the outside world. The 26th African Cup of Nations - starting in Ghana tomorrow when the hosts take on Guinea - promises colour, high drama and almost certainly the best soccer the continent has ever produced.

It is a measure of how far the African game has come that nearly all of Europe's top clubs will be papering over cracks in the coming weeks. A record 34 players have departed English Premier League outfits, and the prolonged absences of four from Chelsea (Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel) and three from Arsenal (Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alexandre Song) could have profound consequences for the title race.

Leaders Manchester United, after all, have lost just one player absent on African duty - their newest recruit from Angola, Manucho.

As usual, French clubs are the worst affected. And in Spain Barcelona, Real Madrid and Sevilla must reorganise significantly.

"This is something new and it shows African players are earning more respect," says Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o.

"Previously Africa had good squad players on the books of big clubs - now they are key elements. Look at Drogba and Essien at Chelsea, Yaya Toure and myself at Barcelona or Mahamadou Diarra at Real Madrid. The image of the African player is changing."

Eto'o has not always had a squeaky-clean image himself, though his exceptional talent is undisputed and the 26-year-old has been chosen as the face of African soccer by the organisers of the 2010 World Cup.

The arrival of soccer's biggest tournament on Africa's shores for the first time represents a critical juncture in the continent's soccer history, and several teams harbour hopes of conjuring a ground-breaking performance in South Africa.

Two quarter-final appearances - by Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002 - is hardly an impressive return, and two years ago only Ghana emerged from the group phase in Germany.

The Nations Cup is being treated by many as a critical dress-rehearsal, and the Black Stars could enhance their reputation as Africa's best hope for the future if they become the third successive host team to triumph.

But while they have a wily coach in the Frenchman Claude LeRoy and a turbocharged midfield featuring Essien and Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari, competition this year is fierce.

Indeed, no fewer than 10 nations can realistically set their sights on glory. Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal have come back strongly after missing out on the last World Cup, and Côte d'Ivoire boast a strike force of immense quality. What would the coaches of certain prominent European nations give to be able to pick an attack from Drogba, Kalou, the wonderfully unpredictable Aruna Dindane of Lens, Lyon's Abdulkader Keita, Arouna Koné of Sevilla and Werder Bremen's Boubacar Sanogo?

Getting the best out those names without unbalancing the side is the trickiest and most important task for the Elephants' coach, Gerard Gili.

Guinea and Mali have outside chances if early results go their way, and north African sides will again pose a formidable threat.

Defending champions Egypt may miss their injured Middlesbrough striker Mido and are unlikely to get so many favourable refereeing decisions this time around, but Tunisia and Morocco look strong.

All three have successfully blended their teams with a mix of foreign-based stars and players competing in their relatively wealthy domestic leagues. Importantly, they also boast better organisational structures and are the least likely to encounter logistical nightmares in Ghana.

The scope for problems in a country unaccustomed to dealing with sudden influxes of people will be considerable for fans, journalists and players alike. The main thoroughfares of the capital, Accra, are invariably gridlocked, hotels have already reached saturation point, and most establishments are trebling their prices.

With thousands of fans from nearby Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Benin, Guinea and Nigeria expected to pile into minibuses and descend on Ghana, organisers have wisely set up makeshift campsites. Nevertheless, the mayhem is likely to be spectacular.

How the players are affected remains to be seen, though it is not unusual for African teams to flounder because of non-soccer issues.
 
At the time of writing, Benin's best midfielder, Stephane Sessegnon, is stuck in France without a visa; Sudan are still searching for a European coach to support Mohamed Abdallah; and Zambia are optimistically attempting a last-minute change of hotel.

Two years ago Togo's campaign was effectively doomed before it had begun following an almighty pay dispute, and similar shenanigans appear inevitable.

"In Africa, you never know what will happen," Eto'o says.

"The problem is that the players are professional, but the same cannot always be said of the federations. I've tried explaining to Cameroon bosses that it's not simply a case of turning up at a stadium and winning the game.

"Being able to relax, having your injuries treated, getting paid on time - this is all vital in the modern game. Until African teams have the same preparation as the Europeans, it's going to be hard to make the breakthrough."