African football powers Ghana and Ivory Coast are long overdue a Cup of Nations title.

It is 30 years since the Black Stars enjoyed the last of four successes in the biennial championship and 20 years since the Elephants lifted the Cup for the only time. They enter the January 21 - February 12 continental showpiece in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon as co-favourites with Senegal considered the best of the rest in a 16-team field.

Opinions of coaches and footballers vary as to which other sides could go far in a 23-day tournament notable for the absence of regular competitors like title holders Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa. Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic backs Mali and 2011 African Footballer of the Year and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure believes Morocco and Burkina Faso pose threats.