Ghana go into the competition as favourites and are expected to cruise through a straightforward group.
Can the hosts deal with the pressure of the home support?
Ghana go into the competition as favourites to pick up the title and are expected to cruise through a seemingly straightforward group.
Namibia are rank outsiders to progress to the quarter-finals and will probably be looking to escape form the tournament with their dignity intact.
Guinea and Morocco are both capable sides, and the clash between the two on 24th January is likely to decide who joins Ghana in the last eight.
Here is an in-depth breakdown of the sides in Group A.
GHANA
The hosts are four times winners of the competition and have picked up the trophy twice on home soil, in 1963 and 1978.
They surprisingly failed to make it out of the group stages of the 2006 tournament, but after impressing at the World Cup during the same year they will be one of the favourites to claim the top prize this time around.
Ghana will feature a strong British based contingent made up of John Pantsil (West Ham), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth), Junior Agogo (Nottm Forest), Chris Dickson (Gillingham), Richard Kingson (Birmingham) and Laryea Kingston (Hearts).
Fenerbache midfielder and national side captain Stephen Appiah will miss the tournament through injury, though, and his experience and quality will undoubtedly be missed.
One to watch: Michael Essien.
The Chelsea midfielder will carry the hopes of a nation on his shoulders in the absence of Appiah, but if he rises to the challenge then the rest of the team should follow his lead.
His energetic and hard working displays will be pivotal to the hosts' success and much of Ghana's play is expected to go through the former Lyon man.
Squad: Richard Kingson (Birmingham City), Sammy Adjei (Ashdod), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold), John Paintsil (West Ham), Dan Opare (Ashantigold), Nana Kwasi Asare (FC Mechelon), John Mensah (Rennes), Alhassan Illiasu (FC Saturn), Francis Dickoh (FC Utretcht), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko), Anthony Annan (I.K. Start), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Bernard Kumodzi (Panionios FC), Laryea Kingston (Hearts), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow), Moussa Narry (Etoile du Sahel), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille), Ahmed Barruso (AS Roma), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy), Baffuor Gyan (FC Saturn, Russia), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana)
GUINEA
Guinea's best performance in the African Cup of Nations came in 1976 when they finished as runners-up, but they have reached the quarter-finals at the last two tournaments proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Celtic defender Bobo Balde will be the most recognisable player to British supporters, but 17 of the Guinean squad play their football in Europe and are no strangers to the big occasion.
One to watch: Ismael Bangoura.
The Dynamo Kiev striker enjoyed a successful spell with French side Le Mans before earning a big money move to the Ukraine and has an impressive goals to games ratio for the national side.
Bangoura has featured in the UEFA Champions League this season, and grabbed Kiev's second goal in their 4-2 defeat to Manchester United in October 2007.
Squad: Kemoko Camara (unattached), Naby Diarso (Satellite FC), Naby
