By Durosimi Thomas BBC African Football correspondent

Ghana welcomed African football fans to its relaxed shores in 2000

Smiles and cheers greeted the news of Ghana's right to stage the 2008 Cup of Nations Cup, but what kind of tournament can African football fans expect to find in four year's time?

Ghana has staged the Nations Cup in 1963, 1978 and in 2000, yet for the next edition will have to host eight more teams more than it has ever welcomed.

Compared to Libya, who lost the 2008 bid, Ghana can cope with sixteen countries and existing infrastructure far better.

Accra and Kumasi have been venues for previous Nations Cup matches in the past but Tamale and Sekondi will see the leading teams in Africa for the first time.

Haphazard renovations were undertaken when Ghana co-hosted the 2000 tournament with Nigeria, yet the Ghanaians recognise that many existing stadia still need major facelifts.

Ghana to host 2008 Nations Cup

Basic media facilities were available at the last tournament, but in 2008 there is room for more dynamism.

For example, some journalists had to cover games from a low stand behind a corner flag at the Accra Sports Stadium.

With Tamale and Sekondi chosen as venues, the organisers will be concerned with providing sufficient hotel accommodation to avoid the rush experienced in Ghana's second city of Kumasi in 2000.

Yet Thursday's news from Cairo could not have come at a better time for Ghanaian football.

The Ghanaian national team, which has conquered Africa on four separate occasions, has begun a gradual revival in the ongoing joint 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers.

The Black Meteors have also won a place at this year's Olympic Games.

Ghanaians turned out in force for Black Stars games in 2000

Previous failures to qualify for the World Cup finals and the shock of missing out on Tunisia 2004 had shattered passions in the Ghanaian game to its lowest ebb.

And if Ghana's current performance is consistent, then local interest in 2008 will be far better than four years ago.

Proof of this could be seen from the scenes of spontaneous jubilation after Ghana's late equaliser against Uganda last weekend in Kampala.

Although there is still a long way to go in the qualifiers, Ghanaians have never been so optimistic about the prospect of securing a 2006 World Cup berth.

A place in Germany will not only boost excitement ahead of 2008, it will also put Ghanaian authorities on their toes to bring tournament preparations up to scratch.