Ivorian coach weary of Ghana's threat

Luanda , Angola , Nov. 23, GNA - Cote d'Ivoire's national team coach, Vahid Halilhodzic has rated the Black Stars of Ghana as the major threat to their ambition at the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Angola 2010.

The Elephants were drawn in Group C alongside the Black Stars, the Stallions of Burkina Faso and the Hawks of Togo for the draw of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Angola 2010 last Friday at the Talatona Convention Centre in Luanda.

Halilhodzic told GNA Sports moments after the draw in Launda that coach Milovan Rajevac's boys will serve as his biggest headache at the January 10 to January 31, 2010 tournament.

"Ghana is a strong team and have in their squad some of the best African players around. They have also qualified to the World Cup and have a strong team.

"It's a difficult group. The two of us are the favourites but we are= the pre-tournament favourites."

The Frenchman also equally rates high the Stallions of Burkina Faso,=

over whom they completed a double during the qualifying series. "We know very well about Burkina Faso having played against them dur= ing the qualifiers, but it won't be easy this time." Coach Halilhodzic also said his team has set their sight on the ultimate having managed a bronze feat at the last edition in Ghana in 200= 8. "We are coming to the Africa Cup of Nations with lots of ambitions a= nd no team can halt that dream."

The Elephants will open their campaign against Burkina Faso in Cabin= da on January 11, face Ghana four days later before coming face to face with=

the Hawks of Togo on January, 19.

Cote d'Ivoire, winners in 1992 have reached at least the semi-finals= in the last two editions. They were runners-up in Egypt in 2006 and bronze winner in Ghana in 2008. The draw ceremony was witnessed by CAF President Issa Hayatou and Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and attended by the cr=E8me de la cr=E8me of African football.

The draw was conducted by CAF General Secretary, Mustapha Fahmy, who=

was assisted by former Angola internationals; Rui Clington, Ndunguidi Daniel, Joaquin Diniz and Fabrice Akwa.

CAF President Hayatou in his remarks, commended the Angolan Government for the support towards the organization of the competition which will last January 10 to January 31, 2010.

He reiterated that Angola is on course to host the biggest soccer event on the continent as organizational and infrastructural demands are far advanced.

Angolan Minister of Youth and Sports Gon=E7alves Muandumba reaffirmed that his outfit is bent on hosting one of the best championship in the history of the competition and pledged that Angola will be ready to host the rest of Africa come next January.

He assured visiting fans and teams of the best of Angolan hospitality and a memorable event as well.

The climax of the ceremony was the handing over of the trophy to the host nation - Angola by the defending champions, Egypt.