He might not be the greatest watcher of the beautiful game.

But Ipswich Town defender Ibrahima Sonko is still hoping his fellow countrymen return from the African Cup of Nations triumphant.

The tournament kicks off today with Sonko’s Senegal standing alongside the Ivory Coast and Ghana as favourites.

But Sonko believes the appearance of perceived lesser lights such as Burkina Faso, Botswana and co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and Gabon just underlines the quality of football coming out of the continent.

Sonko, who was capped 12 times by Senegal, said: “It is a great tournament and it means so much to all the fans all over Africa.

“You have got some great teams this year and some different ones. I think it will be a very good competition and will show how strong football in Africa is. I would like Senegal to win but anyone could beat anyone.”

But asked if he would be watching the tournament, Sonko replied: “I don’t watch much football unless I am at a ground. Watching it on TV bores me a bit.”

With Premier League stars Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Cheik Tiote and Yaya and Kolo Toure, Ivory Coast have predictably been installed as pre-tournament favourites.

Three-times defending champions Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon have all failed to qualify for this year’s finals.

Group A: Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Senegal, Zambia

Group B: Ivory Coast, Angola, Burkina Faso and Sudan

Group C: Tunisia, Morocco, Niger, Gabon.

Group D: Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Botswana.