All aboard the showboat.

Iban Edu has just come back on after a head collision but he pirouettes on the ball 35 yards from goal to find a team-mate.

That one will make the showreel. No wonder he plays for Valencia.

Image source, Getty Images

The 22-year-old scored within 36 seconds of his Premier League debut last January while on loan at West Brom but that goal in a 3-1 defeat by Crystal Palace was the highlight of his brief stint in England.

On the books of Espanyol, he is now on loan Almeria and scored against Barcelona in November.

For a group of players new to this stage, Congo are settling better here and Thievy Bifouma has a chance from a wide shooting area.

He is nicely fed, though the space on offer is plentiful, but his low drive is tipped around the post. Perhaps a cross would have been a better option.

Bifouma is a threat. A recognised name in European football.

Nick Cavell on BBC World Service: "For the first time Congo controlled the ball and created a great chance - LeRoy will want his players to take more time on the ball and put those passes together more frequently."

We have our first injury of the tournament. Or should I say injuries.

Iban Edu of the host nation and Marvin Baudry of Congo clash heads. It's a bit ugly but both know where they are, though it may temporarily feel like the centre of a boxing ring.

Should be OK. Magic sponge needed.

A zinger.

Prince Oniangue - of French club Reims - sees a bit of glory and from 35 yards thinks he will test out this new ball.

A right thwack from his right foot dips and swerves just over the bar. That was close. He puts his head in his hands as he knows that was not far off target.

Nick Cavell on BBC World Service: "Great start from the hosts and that has got the crowd going and that will give the players even more confidence - Congo yet to settle and take control."

Will it be nervous and tetchy? Not by the look of it...

Javier Balboa pulls the ball down in the box for Equatorial Guinea, it's a shooting chance, go on son, make yourself a national hero....not quite. A brave block. The ball wouldn't quite sit down for the leggy number 11.

Nick Cavell on BBC World Service: "It would appear that maybe we are over-full actually. The gangway in front of the media tribune is packed with fans standing up and security are trying to move them along."

And we are underway, Equatorial Guinea roll the new Adidas Marhaba - the tournament's official ball - and Africa Cup of Nations 2015 is off and running.

We asked you who will win the Africa Nations Cup 2015 and the overwhelming favourites are Ivory Coast with 42%. Another 21% of you plumped for Algeria and 15% went for Ghana.

Image source, Getty Images

Full results can be found on the right of this page.

And this is actually hairs-on-end stuff.

The band in the centre of the pitch end the Equatorial Guinea national anthem but fans and players stand still and keep singing.

It is rousing and emotional. Similar scenes to that of the Brazil side at the 2014 World Cup. Deafening noise. Here we go...time for battle...

Image source, Getty Images

And the final formalities take place, the national anthems. Many suits on the field, dignitaries aplenty.

As the Congo anthem ends, applause breaks out in the crows and now it is the turn of the hosts. Their team, decked in red, each place a hand on their heart as the tune belts out...

I'm slightly concerned I can hear a Vuvuzela or two. Please no.

@bbclovefootball tweets:, external This is it! The teams #EqGuinea and #Congo are on the pitch ready to meet the VIPs and then we will have some football! #BBCAfcon2015

Image source, Getty Images

We were not able to see any television pictures from the opening ceremony but these images give a flavour of what went on. Looks like a right good party...

Image source, Getty Images

Right, so now you have enough tournament nous to impress (?) your pals.

But do you know your Dieumerci Mbokani from your Yassine Chikhaoui? You will after a trawl through this splendid group-by-group guide.

Nick Cavell of BBC World Service from Estadio de Bata: "Stadium is packed lots of red Equatorial Guinea shirts in the stadium as the flags are brought out on to the pitch - that means it must be nearly kick-off at last."

Just five minutes to go until kick-off here at Estadio de Bata as the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 gets started.

Can Equatorial Guinea - void of a consistent build-up to the tournament - produce a shock or can Congo start on a path to success in a tournament they have only won once - in 1972.

Right, just to be clear on who is actually playing today...

Equatorial Guinea open the tournament against Congo at 1600 GMT.

Not Equatorial Guinea against DR Congo. Not Guinea against Congo. Not Guinea against DR Congo.

All four (I've counted them up on my fingers to make sure) of those nations will take part in the finals but only Equatorial Guinea and Congo are in action today.

Got that? Good. Now it's just myself and Mr Reddy who have to make sure we get our heads round it...