Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien has talked up the Black Stars' chances of winning the 2008 African Cup of Nations on home soil.

However, the Chelsea player attaches a great level of caution to his optimism as he chooses not to underrate the fifteen other nations who would be vying with Ghana for the trophy.

In an interview on SuperSport during a recent rip to South Africa, the Black Stars player expressed his wary of opponents like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Egypt and Cameroon, who would pose a big threat to Ghana’s ambition of winning the title.

With barely seven months to the kick off of Africa’s biggest sporting spectacle, Michael Essien says it was too early to say that Ghana would win the competition, and only time would tell.

"Anyone can go out there and surprise anyone," he said on the chances of the 16 teams that are expected to compete at the showpiece.

"The nation will expect a lot from us to do well at the tournament.

I think we can do something that can make the people happy and I think that will be great," he said.

After an impressive qualifying campaign that secured Ghana a place at last year’s World Cup coupled with good form at the tournament, the Chelsea player says his team-mates in the Ghana national team have been happy for at least the past three years.

And with the African Cup of Nations coming up, Essien explains that the players are also looking forward to doing something positive for Ghana when the four-time champions host the competition next year.

Michael Essien says the World Cup was a great experience, but believes that despite not reaching the final stages, they drew a lot of positive aspects from the tournament.

"The players were a bit nervous against our game against Brazil, but I think we played well but in the end we did not make it.

“The people were really happy that we qualified for the World Cup.

“That was the biggest thing that could happen to our nation," he said.

Talking about life at Chelsea, the Ghana player said it was first difficult to move to a new country.

"The language barrier was a problem but I had to take the opportunity which was presented to me.

“I was happy to move from France to England, where I actually wanted to play.

“Despite that, I think that one of the things that happen in football is for one to keep your head up and work hard for the club.

“I want to work hard for Chelsea and to make it a successful club next season," he said.

Though the Blues missed out of a successive league treble, Michael Essien remains happy that Chelsea at least won the FA Cup and felt that the players worked hard overall during the season.

He also believes the Stamford Bridge side can make it to the Champions League final next season.

Michael Essien, who this year was named the BBC African Footballer of the Year, was one of the three candidates who were in line for the African Footballer award, which was won by his teammate Didier Drogba.

But the midfielder says he is not one of the best players in Africa, but thinks that it is best to work hard for his country and would try to help it win the Nations Cup next season.

"I don't think I am the best player in Africa at the moment.

“My country comes first as a player and I want it to do well in the future," he said.

Asked about the top-quality facilities in Europe and at his Chelsea club compared to the ones in Africa, Essien said he does not disregard the standard of facilities in Africa.

"We have grown up playing with the current facilities available and I don't think the state of the facilities play a big role.

“I think it is the same but it just depends how the team plays in the end," he said.