Missing giants mean weaker Nations

EGYPT, winners of the last three tournaments, will not be there when the African Cup of Nations begins in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in a fortnight. Neither will Cameroon, who won in 2000 and 2002.

Neither will South Africa, who won in 1996. And neither will Nigeria, who won in 1994.

Given Egypt also won in 1998, that means that of the winners of the last nine Cups of Nations, the only one to have made it to the finals this time round is Tunisia, champions on home soil in 2004.