By Ameenu Shardow
The absence of heavyweights in next year's Africa Cup of Nations is no assurance that Ghana will easily emerge winners, Kwasi Nyantakyi has warned.
The Ghana FA chief is in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, ahead of Saturday's draw for the continent's flagshi.
Ghana alongside Ivory Coast have been tipped as overwhelming favourites for the tournament.
This follows the absnece of giants;Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa (all former winners) who failed to qualify for the tournament.
But this Nyantakyi says underrating any opponent could be Ghana's undoing.
"I would always like to treat the favourite tag of Ghana for this tournament due to the absence of the big names with a lot of caution," Nyantakyi told GHANASoccernet.com
"We have not won the tournament in thirty years and definitely we would love to win it next year.
"We will prepare very well for the competition but it also very much important to manage expectations so the team is not put under excessive pressure."
Ghana goes into Saturday's draw in Malabo as one of the top seeds but Nyantakyi would very much like to avoid tough oppositions at least at the group stage.
"I would prefer we avoid the stubborn teams for the preliminary stages," the affable GFA capo said.
"Starting off with the less fancied ones, teams that have qualified for the first time at the group stage will go a long way in helping us realize our ambition of a Nations Cup crown," he added.