Gearing up for the African Cup of Nations

The squad has been named for the Cup which kicks off in January and with the top flight talent on this list, you can see why some people would consider the Elephants a big time favorite.

Goalkeepers:
Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium)
Tiasse Kone (Africa Sports)
Stephan Loboue (SpVgg Greuther Furth, Germany)

Defenders:
Athur Boka (VfB Stuttgart, Germany)
Guy Demel (Hamburg SV, Germany)
Constant Djakpa (Pandurii Targu Jiu, Romania)
Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England)
Steve Gohouri (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany)
Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton Wanderers, England)
Kolo Toure (Arsenal, England)
Marc Zoro (Benfica, Portugal)

Midfielders:
Emerse Fae (Reading, England)
Christian Koffi Ndri (Le Mans, France)
Siaka Tiene (St Etienne, France)
Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland)
Gneri Yaya Toure (Barcelona, Spain)
Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur, England)

Strikers:
Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens, France)
Amara Diane (Paris St Germain, France)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England)
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England)
Abdelkader Keita (Olympique Lyon, France)
Arouna Kone (Sevilla, Spain)
Bakary Kone (Nice, France)
Gervais Yao Kouassi (Le Mans, France)
Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen, Germany)

When you consider a formation that can boast both Drogba and Kalu in front with Toure and Eboue in the back it is hard to disagree with the big time expectations. Unlike in Germany 06 where it seemed like the team was tenative, and for lack of a better word shy, it will be good to see them get off to a strong start on their own continent against familiar teams. In Group B IC will face Benin, Mali, and Nigeria, which should see them with a pass through to the next round, but it is important that they are running on all cylinders so that when they meet up with level teams such as Ghana and Cameroon they are ready. It appears that captain, and super strker Didier Drogba will be ready for the tournament, and with many of the IC stars coming form the EPL many will be in top form for what is shaping up to be a very exciting tournament. The tournament itself will run form 1/20/08-2/10/08 and will be televised here in the US on