AFCON GUIDE: Mane in Group of Death, Salah eyes champion, Osimhen leads Nigeria
The Africa Cup of Nations is edging ever closer with hosts Ivory Coast kicking off the tournament on Saturday against Guinea Bissau.
Senegal are the defending champions following their penalty shootout victory over Egypt the last time the tournament was held.
Sadio Mane was the hero that day and he will be hoping to lead his country to further success, though Salah and Egypt will be looking to right the wrongs from the 2021 edition of the competition.
Morocco's exploits at the World Cup have a few tipping them for another big-tournament charge while the likes of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon are among those who should not be ruled out.
With the tournament drawing ever closer, Mail Sport previews each group in the competition.
Group A: Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria
The hosts kick off the tournament on Saturday when they take on Guinea-Bissau.
Since winning the AFCON in 2015 they have flattered to deceive given their quality, failing to make the last two World Cups and failing to get past the quarter-finals on the continental stage.
They will have the home edge throughout the tournament but perhaps the lack of star quality will hurt them in the latter stages of the competition.
Ivory Coast are captained by Nottingham Forest's Serge Aurier and have a squad that also consists of Ibrahim Sangare, Willy Boly and Franck Kessie. Wilfried Zaha has not been called up, though Sebastian Haller and Simon Adingra have been called up despite recent fitness issues.
Nigeria will fancy their chances of a deep run given their squad, even if their has been a late blow in the form of Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface withdrawing through injury.
Napoli's Victor Osimhen was recently crowned as the African Player of the Year,
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