Semifinal showdowns at Africa Cup of Nations

ACCRA, Ghana -- Thursday's Africa Cup of Nations semifinals pair four of the continent's footballing heavyweights in search of glory in the 26th staging of the tournament.

Hosts Ghana will play Cameroon, while favorites Ivory Coast take on defending champions Egypt.

Both Ghana and Cameroon have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times and meet at Accra's Ohene Djan Stadium in an eagerly-awaited clash.

Ghana's Sulley Muntari, one of a host of Premier League stars on show, is warning that they face a tough task, despite heroic performances in the previous rounds, as they bid for a first title since 1982.

"There is a lot of expectation for us to do well. The same kind of thing that was there in the World Cup in Germany two years ago.

"But we're united as a group. We love each other very much, we respect each other and are dedicated to this tournament.

"We want to give our all to our nation," said the Portsmouth midfielder.

Chelsea's Michael Essien could well be drafted into the Ghana defense in place of captain John Mensah, who was sent off for a professional foul in their dramatic 2-1 win over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.

Coach Claude Le Roy may well entrust Essien with the job of keeping Cameroon's star striker Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona in check.

Meanwhile Ivory Coast coach Gerard Gili is full of confidence after seeing his side breeze through to the last four, scoring 13 goals in the process.

"We do not doubt," Gili said.

"We have the team to go all the way. The squad have been preparing for this for a long time.

"From the World Cup (in 2006), Ivory Coast have learned how to deal with big events and they know how to handle big games, on and off the field."

But they face a formidable side in Egypt, who beat them on penalties in the 2006 final, and could be without Arsenal defender Kolo Toure who faces a late fitness on a groin injury sustained in a group-stage win over Benin.

Five-time Africa Cup champions Egypt have won eight of the nine matches the two teams have played in the tournament since 1968, with Ivory Coast's last victory back in 1990. E-mail to a friend