The first 45 minutes of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations just flew by. What did you think of it?

This would be a shock in terms of where these teams are located in Fifa's world rankings.

Equatorial Guinea sit 118th. To put that into context, that's six places better off than the football power that is Lesotho, and just six worse of than Sudan. That is the lowest ranking of any team in the tournament.

Congo are 61st. A giant killing if you will?

Image source, AP

Equatorial Guinea opened with a 1-0 win over Libya on the only previous occasion that they hosted the finals, in 2012.

They went on to qualify through the group before being beaten comprehensively by Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals in what remains their only previous Cup of Nations appearance.

Equatorial Guinea had just two shots on goal in that opening half compared to their opponents' seven.

Stats can hide a lot I guess as they merit their lead. They look relatively well organised for a team so void of preparation time.

Nick Cavell on BBC World Service: "The hosts certainly started the best and created chances right from the start and took a well-deserved lead after some neat play from Kike and a nice finish by captain Emilio Nsue.

"That encouraged the crowd even further and that has really encouraged the team to play the attacking football that we were promised by coach Esteban Becker.

"Congo have had a few moments when they have controlled the ball and created their own chances but I am sure that Claude Le Roy will be demanding they do a lot more of it in the second-half."

We have a minute of injury-time to come at the end of the first half but that may be added to as Cesaire Gandze is down hurt for Congo.

The hosts will be happy with this opening period.

Equatorial Guinea have had 47% of possession so far but lead and look more threatening generally.

With the lead, they seem to be happy to contain in these final first-half minutes. At the back they look solid enough but Congo's front two look very isolated. Not much in the way of runners from midfield.

Prince Oniangue has a dig from range for them but it is row Z material.

Image source, AFP/GETTY

Image source, Getty Images

Equatorial Guinea captain and goalscorer Emilio Nsue has not scored in 19 appearances for Middlesbrough this term - albeit he has played at the back in many of those matches.

He is at it again. Equatorial's Iban Edu was dancing on the ball earlier, this time he shoots from just inside the Congo half.

He spots the goalkeeper of his line and drills one but it doesn't quite have the height. It still needs a good palmed save though.

The game has no real pattern yet. A set piece deliver from the left for Equatorial is shocking but trumped in its woeful nature by Boris Moubhibo's sliced clearance which goes for a corner.

Neither side can really get hold of the ball. What we do know is the Equatorial Guinea front three is quick, tricky and generally handy.

One of the go-to phrases managers use these days is "between the lines". I believe this means the spaces between midfield and defence. Players who can pick up space in those areas are seemingly good to have.

Let's just say such players would have a field day in this fixture as there is space everywhere. A David Silva character would fill his little boots.

Nick Cavell on BBC World Service: "Slowly but surely Congo are getting back into this - they are creating their own chances - and the home crowd a cheering each time they are foiled."

Image source, AFP

Our man Marvin - that's Marvin Baudry of French club Amiens - is narrowly off target with a header. A yard or two in it and the ball would have rolled into and empty net.

He out-leaped Equatorial goalkeeper Felipe Ovono who comes for a cross and gets none of it. A major let off.

Equatorial Guinea lead and look well-placed to continue a fine record among the host nations, with none losing their opening game in a finals in the 10 matches since 1998, when Burkina Faso were beaten 1-0 by Cameroon.

Kike is down in the centre circle and he has been pole axed. Ouch, ouch and double ouch.

He was the man who created the goal remember and has some nippy footwork. It gets him on the wrong end of a mullering here though as a knee from Boris Moubhibo lands in let's just say a sensitive area.

I will leave the rest up to you...

Nick Cavell on BBC World Service: "Wow! I don't think I have ever heard noise like that at a football game - spine-tingling things - that must lift the players even more."

Africa Cup of Nations goal one for 2015 and it is the Equatorial Guinea talisman Emilio Nsue.

Their coach is less than three weeks into the job, they didn't qualify for the tournament but scraped in as last-minute hosts and now they lead. A turn up.

Kike spins his marker on the touchline and has space to run into, Nsue's run is neat and he is found in the area to drill the ball under the on-rushing goalkeeper and into the net.

Replays show he looks offside. Controversy. What a start.

Image source, AFP

Former Charlton and South Africa striker Shaun Bartlett on BBC World Service: "Winning your first game can put you on a good foot going forward an get the nation behind you. Then you can gather confidence as the tournament goes on."