In his analysis, Paintsil -- a veteran of six AFCON tournaments between 2002 and 2013 -- has singled out Cape Verde and Mozambique as the primary contenders challenging Ghana's aspirations at the upcoming tournament in Cote d'Ivoire.

He highlighted Ghana's impressive recent record, pointing out that they have not lost a match since the World Cup, making them a formidable force. He also noted Egypt's decline in recent years, further downplaying their threat to Ghana's ambitions.

The retired player's insights come from his years of experience, both as a former player and now as a coach. He has closely monitored the performances of the national team's players and acknowledged significant collective improvements and individual excellence.

He praised Ghana's current coach, Chris Hughton, for his contributions in reshaping the team. Hughton's new tactical system has solidified the midfield and incorporated skilled wingers, making the Black Stars a force to be reckoned with.

Paintsil highlighted the strength and speed of the wingers in the national team, which has added a new dimension to their game.

However, recent friendly matches against Mexico and the USA have revealed some areas that need fine-tuning. Despite their ambition to win, the Black Stars lost 0-2 to Mexico, with Coach Hughton admitting that injuries had forced him to experiment with new tactics and players.

The setback against Mexico did not deter the coach's optimism for an improved performance in the upcoming friendly against the USA.

Coach Hughton stressed that the purpose of these away games was to assess the squad and explore new systems due to the injuries affecting key squad members.

While the first half performance left some room for improvement, the coach expressed his satisfaction with their efforts under the circumstances.

However, he acknowledged the struggles in the second half, where the Mexican team raised the tempo, and his team struggled to cope with the intensity of their game.

Despite the challenges, Hughton remains committed to delivering a better performance in the next friendly match against the USA.

He believes that the team has learned valuable lessons from the loss to Mexico and is determined to avoid similar pitfalls in their upcoming encounters.

As Ghana heads into the AFCON, the combined wisdom of John Paintsil's caution and Chris Hughton's tactical adjustments will be crucial in navigating the tournament.

With a renewed focus on underdog opponents and a resilient spirit, the Black Stars aim to make a strong impression on the continental stage and potentially secure their fifth AFCON title.