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.