Who will win Ghana 2008?

Exactly a week today, the 26th edition of Africa's elite national competition will kick off in Ghana. It is there that the continent's 16 best teams will do battle for the title of 2008 Africa Cup of Nations champions and the right to represent the region at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Such have been the advances made by African football over recent years, with this month's tournament showcasing several of the world's foremost players, that it is almost universally expected that this Cup of Nations will be the most entertaining and keenly contested yet.

Yet while it is generally accepted that the likes of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Michael Essien and Emmanuel Adebayor are poised to serve up a mouth-watering feast of football, the question remains: who will emerge triumphant?

Home advantage has proved decisive in the last two editions, with Tunisia and Egypt claiming the trophy in 2002 and 2004 respectively, and the bookies currently make Ghana narrow favourites to continue this trend.

The Black Stars certainly impressed everyone with their performances at the 2006 FIFA World Cup? and despite the absence of the influential Stephen Appiah, will doubtless be tipped by many of our users to claim their fifth Cup of Nations crown.

That would see them draw level with Egypt at the top of all-time standings, and the holders themselves could yet prove a force to be reckoned with, despite failing to impress during qualifying.

Others, however, will view Côte d'Ivoire - 2006's beaten finalists - as a more formidable proposition, with the imperious Drogba at the forefront of the Elephants' impressive array of attacking talent.

What's your view? Do you think the Ivorians can add to their solitary Cup of Nations title? Of perhaps you believe the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, with Eto'o fit once again, are better placed to add to their four previous continental crowns by claiming gold in Ghana?

Nigeria will also be strongly fancied, while Angola, Senegal, Tunisia and 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts South Africa are all seen as having a realistic chance of advancing to the latter stages.

Do you expect one of them to emerge with the trophy?

What about the prospect of an upset? Pascal Feindouno has spoken about Guinea's belief that they can shock the football world, and Benin, Mali, Namibia, Sudan and Zambia will also be aiming to prove that they aren't travelling to Ghana simply to make up the numbers.