Black Stars to open CAN with Togo

A possible fifth Nations Cup title success for Ghana begins with a game against Togo at the 2010 CAN to be hosted by Angola.

Ghana have been drawn in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo in an all West-African battle for the African Cup of Nations finals early next year.

Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac monitored the draw ceremony in Luanda last Friday afternoon, and saw his team drawn against Togo who they will face in their first match in Cabinda, a day after the opening day match of the three-week tournament on January 11.

Ghana then plays the group seeds, Ivory Coast, a side they beat to win bronze at the last CAN at the same venue in Cabinda on January 15, before traveling to the capital Luanda for their final group encounter with Burkina Faso on January 19.

The draw divided the 16 qualifiers into four groups from which the winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals.

The winner from Group B will take on the second runner up in Group A which includes hosts Angola, Mali, Malawi and Algeria while Group B’s second runner-up will be up against the winner from Group A in the quarter-finals stage of the competition.

The 32-fixture tournament involving 16 nations will be played at four new Chinese-built stadiums in Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubango.