The 2008 African Cup of Nations has certainly caught up with Ghanaians and on Sunday, the Local Organising Committee – LOC - for the tournament received its first guest, Zambia.

The 30-man Chipolopolo delegation touched down at Kotoka International Airport in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, at 20:00 GMT.

Zambia are the first participating nation to arrive for the competition which gets underway on January 20 and runs till February 10 in four hosting cities.

And chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Kofi Amoah, says the LOC would accord the Chipolopolos a historic treat, being the first nation to arrive for the showdown.

“The LOC is very happy to welcome Zambia, one of the great football Nations on the continent. We will welcome them with great passion, enthusiasm and wish them the best of luck.”

The 30-member team were met at the airport by the Mayor of Accra, Stanley Adjiri Blankson and the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Dr Kofi Amoah.

Other officials who also welcomed the team included: Lepowura Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula, Vice Chairman of the LOC, Tony Baffoe, and Abedi Ayew Pele.

Zambia, who rounded up their build-up to the competition with a 2-0 defeat to Morocco on Saturday are in Group C and would be based in Kumasi together with defending champions, Egypt, Cameroon and Sudan.

But they would be without the unfit striker Collins Mbesuma and veteran defender Elijah Tana for the African Nations Cup finals. Both have been dropped.

Zambia must also do without the injured German-based pair of Andrew Sinkala and Moses Sichone.