AFRICAN football legend, Abedi 'Pele' Ayew, says the absence of Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroun, Egypt, and South Africa from the 2012 Cup of Nations saddens him. Egypt won the last three tournaments in the biennial continental showpiece and the five countries boast 15 titles between them in a championship that has been staged 27 times since its 1957 debut in Khartoum.

All failed to make Gabon and Equatorial Guinea for the January 21-February 12 tournament after a shock-riddled qualifying competiton that ended with no-hopers Botswana and Niger making the finals for the first time.

"It is sad, really sad," said former Ghana midfielder Pele with a sigh as he reflected on the missing giants, "because these are big-name football countries who bring excitement to the game throughout Africa." "If you defeat Mauritania to win the Cup of Nations it will not be the same as defeating Algeria, Cameroun, Egypt, Nigeria or South Africa to win it," said the 1991-1993 African Footballer of the Year who helped Marseille conquer Europe.

"Having said that, a trophy is a trophy. If you are able to lift the Cup of Nations it means you have worked hard for it and you have sacrificed so much," stressed the Accra-based businessman and football club owner.

Where Pele and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger differ is the effect the absence of record seven-time African champions Egypt and the other four countries will have.

"There are going to be a lot of surprises in this tournament because the teams who have qualified are not going to central Africa for a holiday," said the father of Ghana squad midfielders Andre and Jordan Ayew.

"With the absence of some great countries, the small nations want to beat the big ones. Botswana and Niger will target the likes of Ivory Coast, Ghana and Senegal."

Raymond Yeboah,Sportsinghana.com