Ghana start business end of competition

Hosts Ghana meet regional rivals Nigeria in Accra today at the start of the business end of the African Nations Cup after a two-day break.

The quarter-final clash is the first of the knockout matches at the tournament, a derby with all the potential to continue the feverish pace of football that has characterised the event to date.

Ghana coach Claude Le Roy, who takes charge of a team at a record sixth Nations Cup, said it was the best he had been to since he started in 1986.

"In terms of technique it is vastly superior because the tournament actually has some of the best players in the world," the Frenchman said.

Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o and Michael Essien have certainly added a new qualitative touch to the continental championship.

Drogba has been the inspirational leader of a polished Ivory Coast team, who won all three of their group matches and are now most fancied to go on and win the title.

The Ivorians play Guinea in Sekondi in today's second quarter-final match.

Eto'o's five goals at the competition have set a tournament goal-scoring record, passing the 38-year-old mark of 14 goals previously held by Laurent Pokou.

Eto'o has promised more goals when Cameroon play Tunisia in Tamale tomorrow.

Angola have proven the surprise side of the tournament and play holders Egypt in Kumasi tomorrow.