Striker Wilfred Bony's transfer to Manchester City last week will have been received as mixed news by Cote d'Ivoire coach Herve Renard ahead of their African Nations Cup opener against Guinea on Tuesday.

Renard will be pleased the matter has been concluded before the tournament gets under way, allowing Bony to fully focus on his campaign with the west Africans in Equatorial Guinea.

But with a 28-million pound price-tag now hanging over his head, and status as the new marquee signing at one of the world's top teams, the pressure of expectation will also have been notched up substantially.

With the greatest respect to the Welsh club, it is one thing to be the star name at Swansea City, but another altogether at Eastlands where the eyes of the world and scrutinizing press will now be watching his tournament with increased interest and pencils sharpened to report every mistake.

Bony says the focus has not changed for him, but admits he needs to have a good tournament.

"I am honoured to be with Manchester City and I am pretty much excited about it. The focus at the moment is with my national team, Ivory Coast. I need to make sure that I do well there and make the country proud," he said.

The 26-year-old also says having countryman, and new clubmate, Yaya Toure, with him in Equatorial Guinea is a calming factor.

"I spoke with Yaya every day and he has been helping me to become a better player. I consulted him before I made my move as well," Bony said.

As if his club situation does not provide enough for the striker to worry about, he will also be tasked with making up for the absence of Ivorian legend Didier Drogba, who retired from the national team after the World Cup in Brazil last year.