The hosts, Angola, are poised to reach the next stage for the second time in a row considering the home support factor.
Meanwhile, three-star team Mali is expected to impress with the help of big names such as Freddie Kanoute, Seydou Keita, and Mahamadou Diarra.
However, those two sides might face a strong challenge from the country that is ranked well above them in the FIFA World Rankings; it’s Algeria, the last-minute World Cup tickets grabbers.
And besides Les Fennecs’ potential threat, Group A will also uncover underdogs Malawi. The Flames could just be the perfect ones to add fire in the table’s contest.
Group A - the favorites at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations
Looking at the teams’ recent performances, achievements, and results, it may sound unjust to say that Mali are the sole favorites in Group A.
If Angola can join the lot of favorites as the host nation, Algeria should also be part of it as the only country in the four-team table that holds tickets for the upcoming World Cup tournament in South Africa.
Angola
The Palancas Negras certainly cannot boast of big star names like Ghana or even Cameroon. Besides, their early exit in the World Cup qualification campaign is something that Angolans would want to forget.
Arguably, the main factor that puts them as favorites to qualify from Group A is the home support. The Palancas Negras will be able to enter into games with a huge amount of confidence which will make much favor to their new coach, Manuel Jose.
Angola can count on the services of the Portuguese man and former Al-Ahly boss who surely knows everything about success on the African stage. Manuel Jose has never managed a national team squad but coaching Angola might offer him memorable experiences.
Expect Angolans to go all out for victories with their heads held higher than ever.
With the full backing of home supporters and with a strong defensive line composed of players like Giberto and Loco, there is always a chance for the Palancas Negras to overcome the challenges of the group stages.
Mali
Mali are absolute favorites on paper to qualify from Group A. They possess one of the finest African strikers in Sevilla’s Freddie Kanoute.
Yes, Mali missed out on a place in the finals of South Africa 2010 but they were especially overwhelmed by the forces of the Ghanaians in Round 3.
Ahead of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, the Malians will try and learn a lot from the mistakes that prevented them to reach the World Cup.
They have other players like Barcelona’s Seydou Keita in whom they might also find inspiration.
But the men that will be responsible of linking the play on the field will be Mali’s coach, Stephen Keshi and Mali’s skipper Mahamadou Diarra.
Algeria 
The Desert Foxes have earned themselves a lot of respect since their historic triumph over Egypt in Khartoum which sent them through to the finals of the World Cup in South Africa.
Algeria are amongst the world’s best 30 teams according to FIFA’s rankings and the best way they could prove their value will be to reach the quarter-finals of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Emulating the hard work that saw Algeria shine throughout their qualification campaign should see them steal a top two finish in Group A.
In three of their last five appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria managed to reach the quarter-finals.
Perhaps, it is too early for the Desert Foxes to dream about lifting the trophy in Angola for the first time since 1990, but the hopes of kick starting the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in style are very much alive.
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Group A - the outsiders at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations
Malawi are the obvious outsiders of Group A. The Flames qualified, only just, for Africa’s biggest competition. 4 points out of a possible 18 in the final round of the qualifiers simply proved how much Malawi struggled throughout.
However, the manner how they reached Angola 2010 – with a single point above fourth-placed Gabon thanks to a 1-1 draw against the Ivory Coast – also shows how lucky Malawians are.
If the underdogs pull up a surprise in January, it will mean that two of Group A’s three favorites will head home empty handed.
Could it be that the hosts, Angola, suffer an early exit? Will Mali stumble once again in Round 1? Or perhaps, it’s Algeria who will suffer a rare disappointment since the year 2008…
Group A - the players to watch at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations
Manucho (Angola); Flavio (Angola); Frederic Kanoute (Mali); Seydou Keita (Mali); Antar Yahia (Algeria); Karim Ziani (Vfl Wolfsburg); Msowoya(Malawi)
Group A - the crunch match at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations
Angola vs Mali: 
Much of the public’s attention will be on Angola as the host nation.
Consequently, Group A’s first match which will involve Angola and Mali on the opening day of the tournament will be of great importance.
Three points for the Palancas Negras will give Angola a vital boost of confidence.
On the other hand, a negative result for them could mark the beginning of a tormenting tournament.
It will be very important for Jose Manuel to lead Angola to victory against a star-studded Malian team on match-day one.
Previous revealing statistics
Ahead of the matches in Group A, we look at two of the table’s favorites – Angola and Mali.
Based on statistics, chances are open for Mali to pounce on the Angolans and create a cruel upset on January 10th. Angola lost 4-0 against The Eagles earlier in a friendly in 2009.
Another interesting point is between Mali and Algeria. The Desert Foxes might have the upper hand over The Eagles due to the fact that they are now World Cup finalists whereas the Malians missed out on South Africa 2010.
However, recent head to heads statistics prove that Mali actually top Algeria with eight goals, two wins and one draw in four meetings.
Big historical facts – Angola, Mali, Malawi, Algeria
Angola:
19 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations went by between 1957 and 1994 without the presence of the Angolan national team.
2008 marked Angola’s best achievement at the continental level as they reached the quarter-finals of the tournament that was held in Ghana. They’ll hope to build on well on that and improve on their own soil in January.
Mali:
Despite all the star names in their squads, Mali have always struggled to find consistency over the decades. 1972 was the year that witnessed The Eagles reaching their first and only final in their history of African football.
In 2008, Mali also crashed out from Round 1 for the first and only time. They’ll be hoping to avoid an early exit this time out in Angola.
Malawi:
Malawi’s history of the Africa Cup of Nations is so little with only one appearance. That takes us back to 1984 when The Flames went no further than the first round.
Algeria:
There’s been nothing so good for Algeria since they lifted the African trophy on home soil in 1990. Algeria could count medals at three occasions before winning the tournament for the first time in 1990. After their triumph, the best that Algeria have managed are three quarter-finals finishes.
Group A – the big question
One underdog, three favorites, but only two tickets at stake… Which of the three favorites will crash out early?
