The knockout stage got underway last night after an opening fortnight packed full of more goals, excitement and drama than it seems we will ever see again at a World Cup or European Championship finals.

Unlike 2006 in Germany where the emphasis was very much on keeping the opposition out and cynical play that led to a flurry of yellow and red cards, the Cup of Nations in Ghana has been a wonderful affair.

The 24 group games saw 70 goals scored in Ghana at an impressive ratio of almost three per game. Some questionable goalkeeping has played a part, but the biggest factor has been a refreshing attacking approach on the part of most coaches. Not quite a Kevin Keegan-esque 'you score three, we score four' attitude, but an adventurous one nevertheless.

The 2006 World Cup may have had some thrilling matches, most notably France's quarter-final win over Brazil and the colossal game between Italy and Germany when a place in the final was at stake. But for those incident-packed affairs, there were a glut of England v Ecuador and Angola v Mexico style
yawn-athons.

Like the bottom half of the English Premier League, avoiding defeat seemed the overriding priority for most teams in Germany and the upshot was a tournament that never quite got going despite the best efforts of the organisers.

In contrast, the Cup of Nations has been packed full of enough fast, exciting football to keep those who have taken the trouble to follow the competition on BBC3 and BBCi gripped.

Egypt's 4-2 victory over Cameroon during the opening week was a phenomenal game and the pick of the bunch so far, showing up in the process much of what passes as 'top class' football in the Premier League for what it is.

The 2006 winners are in action again later today when Egypt take on an Angolan side featuring Leeds United defender Rui Marques in a quarter-final tie that promises to be another belter.

Angola have been the big surprise with their open, passing game being in stark contrast to their efforts in the last World Cup where a defensive, almost inhibited approach led to turgid games such as a goalless draw against Mexico that led to most in the press box that night in Hanover praying for the final whistle.

It is doubtful that will be the case in Accra tonight with Angola likely to push Egypt all the way in what should be a fascinating encounter.

Many of the stars on show in Ghana for the past fortnight will be familiar to Premier League crowds with Didier Drogba, Sulley Muntari, Kolo Toure and Michael Essien all playing their club football in England.

The tournament has also shown that the growing influence of African football on the top European leagues is merely going to increase with stars such as Egypt striker Zidan scoring two of the best goals you could wish to see in that memorable 4-2 victory over Cameroon in the group stages.

Who goes on to lift the trophy remains to be seen with the final not taking place until Sunday (a game that will be shown live on BBC2), but there is little doubt that the 2008 tournament will by then have been chalked down as a big success.