Elephants in hunt for African glory

(CNN) -- Coming at a time when Europe's leagues are gearing up for the sharp end of the season and thoughts are turning to the knockout stages of the Champions League and UEFA Cup, the African Nations Cup can sometimes feel like the unwanted child of the international football calendar.

Pre-tournament coverage of this year's edition has mostly focused on the impact it has had on clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona as key players jet off to Ghana to play for their country.

Yet in recent years the African Nations Cup has established itself as a highly competitive and uniquely colorful tournament that has drawn European club scouts in their droves in search of the next George Weah, Samuel Eto'o or Didier Drogba.

With the 2010 World Cup due to be hosted by South Africa, this year's competition also offers the first chance to assess the state of African football in the build-up to the tournament's arrival on African shores for the first time as well as clues to the likely chances of the continent's "home" sides.

Though currently only the fifth highest ranking African team in FIFA's world rankings, on present reputation and form, few would argue that the Ivory Coast are the team to beat in the Ghana and the African side most likely to challenge European and South American dominance in two years' time.

With internationally renowned players including the two-time African footballer of the year Drogba, his Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou, the Toure brothers, Kolo of Arsenal and Yaya of Barcelona, and Emmanuel Eboue, also of Arsenal, the Elephants have a formidable squad on paper.

Building on an impressive World Cup debut in Germany two years ago, when they were unlucky not to advance from a tough first round group that also included the Netherlands, Argentina and Serbia and Montenegro, the Ivorians have a formidable recent international record, losing just once competitive international at home in a decade.

Unluckily beaten on penalties in the final by hosts Egypt on their last appearance at the African Nations Cup, that experience will likely make Drogba and his teammates even more determined to succeed this time around, especially on their own doorstep with virtual home support in neighboring Ghana.

Arguably, the Ivorians have already won their toughest match, beating Africa's top-ranked side, Nigeria, 1-0 in their group B opener thanks to Kalou's slaloming run.

"It is an important victory because we won against our main rival for top spot in the group," Drogba said. "Nigeria were the most dangerous team and I think the most important thing has been done."

Nigeria's veteran coach Berti Vogts appeared in no doubt that his side had been beaten by potential champions, commenting: "We have lost against the best team in Africa."

The Ivorians' preparations have not been entirely smooth, with former German coach Uli Stielike forced to quit due to a family emergency when his son fell seriously ill in the build-up to the tournament.

That has forced French coach Gerard Gili to step into the breach, but Drogba insists that too has only exacerbated the Elephants' commitment to the cause.

"A drama always happens when Ivory Coast are preparing for a competition. We would have loved not to have to deal with it," he said.

"I just want to say that we are all behind Uli. We are going to try to give the maximum, to try to repeat what he taught us and we will add Gerard Gili's work to go all the way." E-mail to a friend