By CARLOS AMATO SAFA chief executive Raymond Hack copped a media bollocking when he claimed last year that Bafana's absence from Angola 2010 might prove a "blessing in disguise". Current Font Size: It was an infuriating thing to say at the time, when the wound of that ignominious failure was raw. But Hack (whisper it) may have been right. The Africa Nations Cup finals begin next Sunday in Luanda, and the tournament will be a giant leap forward for the host nation. Sparkling new arenas, roads and hotels have been built, and Angola's six years of prosperous peace will be toasted in grand style. But the jury's out on whether the tournament will be a boon or a burden for those five competing teams who must also contest the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in June and July. Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Algeria could all gain precious cohesion and big-match experience this month. But they could also gain nothing but exhaustion. Can Africa's best footballers perform at their peak in two major international tournaments and serve out the gruelling business end of their European club season, all within six months? It's an argument that will be settled only in June. Besides, the five coaches in question had no option but to name full-strength squads. The Nations Cup is never less than war: if you hold anything back, you get killed on arrival. Vahid Halilhodzzic's Ivorians are favourites, narrowly ahead of Ghana and Cameroon, while the resurgent Nigerians are also genuine contenders. Can champions Egypt lift themselves after a hellishly disappointing 2009? The absence throug injury of Mohamed Aboutreika and Amr Zaki won't help, and nor will the lingering gloom of Egypt's fifth consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. That said, they're still the Pharaohs, and they will be itching to humiliate group opponents Nigeria as a form of post-traumatic stress therapy. Not for the first time, coach Hassan Shehata has dropped his least favourite prima donna, Ahmed Mido, so Emad Moteab will have to get the goals. Tunisia are often ignored in the preamble to a Nations Cup, because they lack household names. But the Carthage Eagles have looked ominously resilient under new coach Faouzi Benzarti, and in Oussama Darragi they have a fine playmaker. The host team are a real threat. The Palancas Negras's form has troughed since their wonderful Nations Cup campaign two years ago - but home advantage and the wily tutelage of Manuel Jose will ignite them. In Flavio Amado, Manucho and Ze Kalanga, Angola have a trio of superb attackers. It's a pity that galloping fullback Yamba Asha and captain Andre Makanga, both injured, are out of the tournament. Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique will also fly the tattered flag of southern African football, but don't expect them to fly it for very long. OUSSAMA DARRAGI - Tunisia / Esperance They call him "Picasso" in Tunis, on account of his prodigious creative flair. But the big playmaker, 22, is a stone-hearted finisher when necessary, as he demonstrated with a scintillating late equaliser against Nigeria in Abuja during a World Cup qualifying match. Darragi's height and heavy build can make him look lethargic, but he has deceptive speed. GERVAIS YAO KOUASSI (aka GERVINHO) - Ivory Coast / Lille The jet-heeled Gervinho is the French league's leading scorer this season, firing Lille to second spot on the table. Blessed with flair, anticipation and predatory temperament, he is wanted by both Arsenal and Spurs. There are no shortage of decent wide forwards in the Elephants squad: Arouna Kone, Abdulkader Keita and Salomon Kalou are the men in possession. But Gervinho is too good to wait - he should start on the wing immediately, or support Didier Drogba as a shadow striker. DOMINIC ADIYIAH - Ghana /AC Milan Believe the hype. Adiyiah's fantastic long-range goal against Amajita at the World Youth Championships was enough to convince AC Milan coach Leonardo. The 20-year-old star will move to Milan from Swedish club Frederikstad after the tournament. Despite plundering eight goals in Egypt for the Black Satellites, he is not guaranteed game time in Angola. Incumbent strikers Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda) and Asamoah Gyan (Rennes) are on form - but Adiyiah may only need a few minutes to snatch a starting spot. THREE UNMISSABLE GROUP GAMES ANGOLA v MALI Group A, Sunday January 10, 9pm, Luanda EGYPT v NIGERIA Group C, Tuesday January 12, 6pm, Benguela IVORY COAST v GHANA Group B, Friday January 15, 8.30pm, Cabinda Source: www.timeslive.co.za