Nigeria's John Obi Mikel, left, and Michael Essien of Ghana are just two star players who will be competing at the 2008 African Cup of Nations . (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

It's often overshadowed by the European championship and the South American Copa America, but the biennial African Cup of Nations brings together the best players from across Africa for one of international soccer's most prestigious and exciting tournaments.

The 26th edition of the Cup of Nations will be contested in Ghana from Jan. 20 to Feb. 10, with the 16-nation field divided into four round-robin groups. The top two teams in each group advance to the quarter-finals, where the competition adopts a single-elimination format.

Host Ghana will compete in Group A against Guinea, Morocco and Namibia. Group B consists of Benin, the Ivory Coast, Mali and Nigeria. Group C is made up of Cameroon, Egypt, Sudan and Zambia. Angola, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia face off in Group D.

Because the Cup of Nations falls in the middle of the European club season, it always leads to controversy, with top teams from Europe trying everything in their power to prevent their top African players from competing for their national teams.

But the majority of Africa's biggest stars — Michael Essien and Didier Drogba of Chelsea, and FC Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o, foremost among them — will be in Ghana to compete in what promises to be a brilliant showcase for African soccer.

CBCsports.ca offers this breakdown of the four first-round groups and the players to watch on the road to the final on Feb. 10 in the Ghanaian capital of Accra.

Group A: Ghana, Guinea, Morocco and Namibia
This is Ghana's group to win or lose. Besides having the home-field advantage, the Black Stars have a wealth of top-class talent, led by Chelsea star midfielder Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari of Portsmouth. The loss of team captain Stephen Appiah is a bit of a blow, but Ghana, still on an emotional high from its strong showing at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, is one of strongest teams in Africa and they will show it by easily cruising to first place in Group A. Joining the Ghanaians from Group A in the quarter-finals could be Morocco. Like Ghana, Morocco is a traditional power in Africa and has plenty of skilled players, such as striker Youssef Hadji who plays in the French first division with AS Nancy. Guinea could spring a surprise and beat Morocco for second place, though. Guinea reached the quarter-finals two years ago, boasts a talented playmaker in Pascal Feindouno (who also plays in France AS Saint-Etienne), and has a dangerous striker up front in Ismael Bangoura (Dynamo Kiev). Competing in only its second Cup of Nations tournament, Namibia appears to be the whipping boy of this group. Lacking quality players, the task of the Brave Warriors to survive this group was made even more difficult with the tragic death of former coach Ben Bamfuchile. New custodian Aries Schans has his work cut out for himself.
Predicted finish: 1) Ghana, 2) Morocco, 3) Guinea, 4) Namibia

Group B: Benin, the Ivory Coast, Mali and Nigeria
The Group of Death. Boasting a lineup that includes Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Kolo Toure (Arsenal), Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur), Bakari Kone (Nice) and Aruna Dindane (Lens), the Ivory Coast has to be considered one of the favourites, although it may have to cope without Drogba if his knee injury resurfaces. Still, that will hardly slow down the White Elephants, who will be looking to avenge their loss in the final two years ago. The battle for second place will be very interesting, with Nigeria (a traditional power in African soccer) fighting it out with Mail, an emerging continental force. Nigeria's attack is awesome — it can rely on John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), John Utaka (Portsmouth) and Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United) — but it lacks defensive depth, and that will hurt, especially against the Ivory Coast. Mali could be the tournament dark horse. Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid), and Freddie Kanoute and Seydou Keita (both with Sevilla) form a dangerous trio, although Mali doesn't have a legitimate goal-scorer other than Kanoute. Benin, making only its second-ever appearance at the Cup of Nations, will be easily pushed aside and has little hope of even climbing out of the Group B basement.
Predicted finish: 1) The Ivory Coast, 2) Mali, 3) Nigeria, 4) Benin

Group C: Cameroon, Egypt, Sudan and Zambia
With all due respect to Egypt, the reigning African champions, Cameroon is the class of Group C. Cameroon, known as the Indomitable Lions, is historically one of the most powerful nations in African soccer (having won this tournament four times) and the current squad is a strong one. Led by FC Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o, a three-time African player of the year and one of the most explosive strikers in the world, Cameroon should have little trouble topping this group. Egypt has won the Cup of Nations a record six times, including the 2006 tournament on home soil, but the Pharoahs stumbled into this year's competition after suffering through a lacklustre qualifying campaign. Still, they should finish second in Group C. Zambia and Sudan don't have the talent, skill or quality to compete with Cameroon and Egypt.
Predicted finish: 1) Cameroon, 2) Egypt, 3) Zambia, 4) Sudan

Group D: Angola, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia
This is easily the most balanced group of the four. Senegal has had recent success in the tournament — it reached the semifinals two years ago in Egypt — but so has Tunisia (winning on home soil four years ago), and Angola (which qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2006). As for South Africa, it has plenty to play for, hoping to build momentum as it prepares to stage the next World Cup in 2010. El Hadji Diouf (Bolton Wanderers) and Henri Camara (Wigan Athletic) give Senegal a dangerous 1-2 scoring punch, while Fulham star Papa Bouba Diop is the team's general in midfield. Tunisia is not the powerhouse it was four years ago when it won this tournament, but the Carthage Eagles have plenty of experience and boast one of the tournament's top goal scorers in naturalized Brazilian star Francileudo dos Santos, who plays in the French first division with Toulouse. Led by Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, the South Africans should edge Angola for third place. The Angolans are a rising force in African soccer and their day will soon come — just not at this tournament.
Predicted finish: 1) Senegal, 2) Tunisia, 3) South Africa, 4) Angola