Ghana have been handed a fairly difficult draw for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with West African rivals Mali and Guinea in Group D alongside Botswana.

With champions Egypt and some of Africa's other major powers failing to qualify, the tournament also sees former World Cup qualifiers Angola paired with Ivory Coast, Sudan and Burkina Faso in Group B.

Morocco and Tunisia clash in Group C, with debutants Niger who qualified at the expense of South Africa, and Gabon; while hosts Equatorial Guinea will play the newly liberated Libya, along with Senegal and Zambia.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso can play in next year's finals after a protest about the use of an ineligible player was thrown out, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Saturday.

Although the tournament is almost three months away, many African pundits have already decided that the February 12 Libreville final will pit Ivory Coast against Ghana in a West African showdown.

Ghana lifted the Cup of Nations four times, but the last triumph was in Tripoli 29 years ago, while the lone Ivory Coast success came 19 years ago in Dakar after a marathon penalty shoot-out with the Black Stars.

Group A: Eq. Guinea, Libya, Senegal, Zambia
Group B: Cote D'Ivoire, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Angola
Group C: Gabon, Niger, Morocco, Tunisia
Group D: Ghana, Botswana, Mali, Guinea

MATCH DATES & VENUES
Group A
January, 21 - 19:30 WAT
Equatorial Guinea v Libya - Estadio de Bata, Bata
January, 21 - 22:00 WAT
Senegal v Zambia - Estadio de Bata, Bata
January 25 - 17:00 WAT
Libya v Zambia - Estadio de Bata, Bata
January 25 - 20:00 WAT
Equatorial Guinea v Senegal - Estadio de Bata, Bata
January 29 - 19:00 WAT
Equatorial Guinea v Zambia - Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
January 29 - 19:00 WAT
Libya v Senegal - Estadio de Bata, Bata

Group B

January 22 - 17:00
Ivory Coast v Sudan - Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
January 22 - 20:00
Burkina Faso v Angola - Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
January 26 - 17:00
Sudan v Angola - Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
January 26 - 20:00
Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso - Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
January 30 - 19:00
Sudan v Burkina Faso - Estadio de Bata, Bata
January 30 - 19:00
Ivory Coast v Angola - Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo

Group C

January 23 -17:00
Gabon v Niger - Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville
January 23 - 20:00
Morocco v Tunisia - Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville
January 27 - 17:00
Niger v Tunisia - Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville
January 27 - 20:00
Gabon v Morocco -Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville
January 31 - 19:00
Gabon v Tunisia - Stade de Franceville, Franceville
January 31 - 19:00
Niger v Morocco - Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville

Group D

January 24 - 17:00
Ghana v Botswana - Stade de Franceville, Franceville
January 24 - 20:00
Mali v Guinea - Stade de Franceville, Franceville
January 28 - 17:00
Botswana v Guinea - Stade de Franceville, Franceville

January 28 - 20:00
Ghana v Mali - Stade de Franceville, Franceville
February 1 - 19:00
Botswana v Mali - Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville
February 1 - 19:00
Ghana v Guinea - Stade de Franceville, Franceville