The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) commences this Saturday in Ivory Coast, with the host nation and Mohamed Salah's Egypt emerging as strong contenders to claim the continental championship, seeking to follow in the footsteps of Senegal, captained by Sadio Mane.
This 24-team tournament, culminating in the final on Feb. 11, marks the first of its kind in the West African country in 40 years since the 1984 edition, where only eight nations participated, ultimately won by Roger Milla's Cameroon.
Senegal are defending the title they won in Cameroon in 2022, but a strong field also features Morocco and a Nigerian side spearheaded by African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen.
The tournament opens with the Group A meeting of the hosts and Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, on the outskirts of the economic capital, Abidjan.
The 60,000-seat stadium was built for a tournament initially supposed to be played in June and July last year to avoid a clash with the middle of the European season, where many top African players are based.
However, fears over staging it during the rainy season led to it being pushed back to its more traditional January and February slot.
Matches will be staged in six stadiums, with two venues in Abidjan, including Ebimpe, which will host the final.
Games will also be played in the capital Yamoussoukro and neighboring Bouake, as well as in San Pedro on the coast and in Korhogo, in the north, near the frontiers with Mali and Burkina Faso.
It is the first AFCON in West Africa since Ghana in 2008, and $1.5 billion has been invested by the Ivorian government. "Let's all mobilize to make this AFCON a great celebration of youth, Ivorian hospitality, and African brotherhood," said President Ouattara in his New Year's speech.
Authorities will be hoping to avoid anything like the event that overshadowed the last AFCON in Cameroon, where eight people were killed in a crush and stampede outside Yaounde's Olembe Stadium. Locals are also hoping that their team, the Elephants, can go all the way and claim a third title.
Salah leads Egypt
The most recognizable face in their squad is Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller, who appears regularly on billboards lining Abidjan's traffic-choked streets.
As they aim to retain their crown despite stiff competition, the Lions of Teranga will again lean heavily on Mane, the former Liverpool forward now playing in Saudi Arabia for Al Nassr. "I cannot recall a stronger field.
"All the giants are going to be in Ivory Coast, and all of them will be plotting to dethrone us," Mane, now 31, said recently.
Senegal are in Group C with Cameroon, Gambia, and the Guinea of Serhou Guirassy, prolific in the German Bundesliga with Stuttgart and reportedly fine after an injury scare this week.
Egypt boasts the biggest star of all in Salah as they target a record-extending eighth title to banish the memory of defeats in the 2017 and 2022 finals.
That is what Egyptians are dreaming of, although fans of his club, Liverpool, will hope he returns early as they chase the English Premier League title.
Egypt should have a few serious problems getting out of a group also featuring Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
Can Morocco live up to billing?
Morocco are hoping to live up to their billing after becoming the first African nation ever to reach the semifinals at a World Cup, just over a year ago in Qatar.
"I want to at least get to the semifinals," coach Walid Regragui told local television channel Arryadia, as Morocco aims to win a second AFCON and first since 1976.
They are in Group F with DR Congo, Zambia, and a Tanzania side who have never won a game at the tournament.
Morocco's biggest star is Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back who was runner-up to Osimhen for the 2023 African Footballer of the Year.
The presence of Napoli striker Osimhen gives Nigerians hope their team can go far, but they have been dealt a blow with the loss of Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface to injury.
The Super Eagles will play the hosts, as well as Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, in Group A.
Winners in 2019, Algeria is in Group D with Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola.
South Africa's Bafana Bafana are back after missing the last edition, and their team leans heavily on the country's leading club side, Mamelodi Sundowns.
They meet Tunisia, Mali, and Namibia in Group E.