The 24th biennial tournament is being held in Tunisia for the third time and includes the top 16 teams in the continent.

The tournament gets under way with a colourful opening ceremony at 1300 GMT.

The first game sees the host nation take on newcomers Rwanda in the Rades stadium on the outskirts of the capital Tunis at 1830 GMT.

The final will also be held in Rades on 14 February.

All five World Cup 2002 representatives - Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia and South Africa - will be in Tunisia.

As well as Rwanda, Benin and Zimbabwe also make their debuts in the tournament.

The only big names missing are four-times winners Ghana, who failed to qualify from the group stages.

Cameroon and Egypt are looking to claim a record-breaking fifth title.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions have claimed the last two titles on penalties.

In 2000 they triumphed in a tournament jointly held by Ghana a Nigeria by beating Nigeria 4-3 on spot-kicks after a 2-2 draw in the final.

They were again crowned champions in 2002 when they defeated Senegal 3-2 in a shoot-out after a goalless draw in Mali.

Tunisia, who last hosted the tournament in 1994, will be looking to put on a good show.

They are bidding to host the 2010 World Cup and will be using the tournament as a demonstration of its ability to stage such an event.