Will Zambia successfully defend last year’s Afcon win?

Will Zambia successfully defend the Africa Cup of Nations or are we set to see a new champion in the 2013 competition, which starts on January 19 to February 10 in South Africa?

Zambia were the surprise champions last year, but even going into the 2013 championships, the Chipolopolo do not look to be the favourites.

Their coach Herve Renard said he wants to prove that their win last year was not a fluke, although he also admits they are the underdogs.

A resurgent Nigeria, who failed to reach the finals last year, will pose the most significant threat in group C alongside Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

Renard who was recently crowned the best coach on the continent is refusing to get carried by last year’s win. “We know we’re not the favourites, but in football everything is possible. Our motivation is high ahead of the tournament,” said coach Renard.

Despite failing to lift the title since 1992, Cote d’Ivoire — one of the most talented sides in Africa today — are once again favourites.

Cote d’Ivoire will be led by veteran striker Didier Drogba who may be playing his last Nations Cup as he hopes to sign off with a win.

The 34-year-old said the team will work hard to ensure the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) does not elude them. In previous attempts, Drogba helped the Ivorians to reach the final in 2006 and 2012 but lost out to Egypt and Zambia respectively.

Also tipped for success is Ghana who like the Ivorians have waited years to lift the African title. Ghana have won four Africa Cup of Nations titles, but have not lifted the trophy since 1982 when they beat Libya 7-6 on penalties in the final.

With Cameroon, Senegal and record seven-time winners Egypt all having failed to qualify for the finals, the tournament in South Africa represents another golden opportunity to end Ghana’s 31-year quest for a fifth title.

Almost all the players in the Ghana team were yet to be born when Black Stars last lifted the African title and it will be painful if they fail to once again succeed, despite the array of youthful talent in the squad.

Ghana will be bidding to win the continent’s top prize without experienced campaigners John Mensah and Michael Essien. Mensah has been without a club since being released by Lyon last year, while Essien has chosen to focus on Real Madrid, where he is spending a season on loan from Chelsea, rather than attempting to reignite an international career, which has been dogged by injuries over the past few years.

Ghana are in group B alongside Niger, DR Congo and Mali and are expected to have an easy passage to the quarter finals.

East Africa will be represented by Ethiopia who find themselves in a tough group that has holders Zambia, former champions Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

For Ethiopia, one of the pioneer nations that set up the Afcon, it will be a great outing after returning to the scene for the first time in 37 years.