Newcastle United striker Demba Ba has predicted that Senegal can go far in this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

The Lions have been pitted in Group A alongside Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Zambia.

"We have been preparing for this competition for two years. We are a group of friends and most of us have known each other for a very long time. The good mood in our team will help us go far," Ba told FIFA.com.

"Personally, I just want to carry on in this vein and win titles. That, after all, is the ultimate goal when you play football."

The tournament, co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, begins on Saturday.