Didier Drogba knows the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations represents the final chance for Ivory Coast's 'golden generation' to lift the coveted continental trophy. For all their talent the closest the current Elephants side have come to being crowned African champions was in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012 where they lost on penalty shootouts in the final to hand victory to Zambia. The result, however, could have been very different had Drogba coverted a penalty during the match. A similar Cote d'Ivoire side lost on penalties to hosts Egypt in Cairo in 2006 while a very differed team defeated Ghana on penalties in 1992 for their sole AFCON win. And ahead of the tournament in South Africa, the Shanghai Shenhua striker told Ivorian reporters: "Coming to South Africa for the 2013 Cup of Nations will be special for me. "We have twice come so close to winning this tournament. "But that does not mean that we can afford to slow down and assume that if we wait long enough the title will be ours. We have learnt from our failures and we are coming this time to win the title and nothing else. On paper the Elephants head into the tournament as favourites, once again, but have been drawn in a tricky group that includes former champions Algeria, 2004 winners Tunisia, and Togo. But if their record is anything to go by, the Ivorians will do well to even emerge from. Group D. They have only beaten Togo once in three meetings, played and lost to Tunisia in their one game to date, while they havce lost two from three games against Algeria. Ivory Coast Sabri Lamouchi conceded they face tough opponents but as favourites they must deliver. "It is unquestionably the most difficult group and we got three fearsome opponents," said Lamouchi. "We were favourites before the draw and still are. Now we must deliver on the pitch." Ivory Coast will play all their games at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg facing Togo, Tunisia and Algeria on the 22nd, 26th and 30th January in this order.