Africa Cup of Nations set to kick off in Gabon

If you follow the English Premier League, there comes a time every two years when topAfrican players of every footballclub go missing for a few weeks in January.

That time has come again with players such as Liverpool's Sadio Mane and Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny leaving their clubs to play in Africa's biggest football tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The 31st edition of the AFCON is being held from January14, 2017 to February5, 2017 in Gabon in equatorial Africa.

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The tournament is held every two years and apart from the prize money on offer—$4 million for the winner—and bragging rights, the winner also gets to compete in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The FIFA Confederations Cup is a tournament between the winners ofcontinental football tournaments and will be held in Russia this year from June 17 to July 2.

This year's AFCON will be held across four cities in Gabon with the opening match to be held on January 14, 2017 between the hosts Gabon and Guinea-Bissau in the Stade de l’Amitié Sino in Libreville, Gabon's capital. The final will be held in the same stadium on February5, 2017.

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in four cities across Gabon. (WION)

The tournament consists of 16 teams split into groups of four, with each team playing the otheronce. The top two from each group progressinto the quarterfinals after whichthe AFCON becomes a knock-out tournament.

Group B is seen as the 'Group of Death' at AFCON 2017. (WION)

Every football tournament usually has a "Group of death" from which teams find it extremely difficult to get out of. In this tournament, Group B gets the dreaded moniker asthree of Africa's top five countries in the FIFA world rankings—Senegal, Tunisia and Algeria—have been thrown together.

Group D with seven-time AFCON winner Egypt,four-time AFCON winner Ghana andpotential spoilsportMali is likely to be another tough group.

So, who are the favourites? The British bookmakers William Hill have defending champions Ivory Coast as favourites withdecimal odds of 4.5 andSenegal 2nd-favourite at 5.5.

Bookmakers have Ivory Coast as the odds-on favourite to win AFCON 2017. (WION)

The tournament won't be short of superstars either. The host country Gabon has probably the best playerat the tournament in 27-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (top). He is intop form for his club Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga this season with 16 goals already in 16 matches!

Another player to look forward to is Riyad Mahrez from Algeria, who was the star player for Leicester City as it won the 2015-16 English Premier League. In fact, his interplay with fellow club-mate Islam Slimani and Yacine Brahimi of Portugese club Porto should make Algeria the most attractive team to watch at the tournament, and the neutral's favourite.

Islam Slimani (left) and Riyad Mahrez (right) could make Algeria one of the most exciting teams to watch at the tournament. (AFP)

Graphics designed by Sunitha Shekhar.