Out of Africa

Thirty five Premier League players, 16,000 journalists and some terrible defending - no, it's not Kevin Keegan's first training session at Newcastle United but the African Cup of Nations which kicks off in Ghana on Sunday.

The African Cup Of Nations used to be virtually ignored in this country until African players started making a name for themselves in the Premier League. You might have to be a Guardian reader to enjoy Ghana v Guinea, the opening fixture on Sunday, but you will have to wait only until Monday for the most mouthwatering match of the group stages - Nigeria v Ivory Coast.

Nigeria are managed by Berti Vogts and the German has wasted no time in making himself as unpopular in Lagos as he was in Glasgow. Nigerians are less than impressed that he refused to move to Africa when got the job a year ago and he was warned last week by the Nigeria FA that his four year contract would be terminated if the Super Eagles are not crowned the champions of Africa for the first time in 14 years, in Accra next month.

Nigeria expects because Vogts has players such as Obafemi Martins and John Obi Mikel in his squad, but when it comes to star names, the Ivory Coast are in a league of their own. Led by their captain, Didier Drogba, The Elephants can also call on the services of players such as Salomon Kalou, Didier Zokora, Emmanuel Eboue and the Toure brothers.

After Nigeria lost 1-0 to Australia in a friendly at Craven Cottage last November Vogts had to put up with a barrage of hostile questions from Nigerian journalists about his team selection and from English journalists about the disruption that the tournament would cause the Premier League. According to Vogts, the cynics in England are stuck in the past and in an exclusive interview with Times Online, Stan Collymore, the former Aston Villa and Liverpool forward who is covering the tournament for Eurosport, claims that managers such as Avram Grant and Harry Redknapp who want the tournament moved to the summer are full of hot air.

On Sunday, we will finally see what the fuss is all about.