Ghana coach, Claude Le Roy has started his 91-day countdown to naming his squad to play Guinea in the opening match of the 2008 African Nations Cup finals.

The Black Stars, placed in Group A with Guinea, Morocco and Namibia after Friday's draw kick off the 26th edition of the tournament which starts on January 20 at the Ohene Djan stadium in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

And ahead of the game, Black Stars coach, Claude Le Roy, who will be making his sixth appearance at the tournament just after the draw is hoping to make a compelling start.

Ghana’s campaign in the last edition of the competition was blighted with injuries forcing some key players to miss the competition, a situation which affected the chances of the Black Stars.

However, Claude Le Roy, aware of the expectation of Ghana’s sixteenth appearance at the African Nations Cup and the quest for a fifth title success praying against injuries to key players in the run to the competition.

“I’m hoping there will be no injuries to my key players for us to move on” said the Frenchman who will be making his sixth appearance at Africa’s foremost football after stints with Senegal, Cameroon DR Congo among others.

“I can assure all that we will display the real action on the field come January. I know expectations are high but we will surely go through,” the Ghana coach said in his post draw reaction on Friday.

Le Roy’s opposite number in the Guinean dugout, Robert Nouzaret, also in the post draw reaction told the media that he was delighted to get the opening game of the tournament.

"We are delighted to get the opening game, it will make for a compelling start," Guinea coach Robert Nouzaret told reporters.

"It will serve as a major motivation for my players."