Image source, Getty Images

Players' shirts stuck to them- and it is not yet perspiration - as the rain thumps down. Rainford Kalaba finds space in the box to jink a shooting position but the Zambia number 17 sees his effort deflected narrowly wide. They have made the better shooting positions so far.

Flowing football from Tunisia and only a strong save from goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba keeps it level. A passing move from the north Africans sees Yassine Chikhaoui's shot turned wide. Tunisia looking dangerous, Congo DR aren't...

BBC Sport's Matthew Kenyon in Ebebiyin: The rain is getting more intense and there are flashes of lighting overhead. It hasn't deterred the fans over there on the far side just yet....

Actually, that's not true, because a large number of neutrals are now heading for shelter!

Image source, Getty Images

Cape Verde - minnows? Underdogs? Plucky types you want to cheer for?

The small island nation may well give off an air of loveability, but make no mistake, these geezers can mix it.

Their opening fixture in this tournament against Tunisia is still the dirtiest in the 2015 competition to date, with a whopping 48 fouls.

You want some?

The omens aren't good for DR Congo this evening.

They have only won one of their seven previous competitive meetings with their North African counterparts (D1 L5) and that was the first meeting back in 1989 (played as Zaire).

Still, records are there to broken...

That's a bit more like it...use the wet surface and cause some mayhem.

Given Singuluma lashes one which zips, causing s parry from the Cape Verde keeper and though Evans Kangwa pounces on a rebound to see his effort swiped off the line, the flag is up as he strayed.

This game has not fully opened yet but the slippy conditions and the fact there is a huge reward on offer tells me we will get a good affair here.

BBC Sport's Nick Cavell in Bata: A very very different atmosphere in the Estadio de Bata tonight - barely a thousand fans in at the moment. BUT the DR Congo fans are making themselves heard with their drums and maracas - and the occaisional vuvuzela. The Tunisia fans seem to have been boosted by a few supporters from other nations judging by the flags in front of them - and they are sticking to chanting to outdo the Congolese drums.

Tight in Ebebiyn with neither goalkeeper called on to make a meaningful save. Heldon looks a cut above anything in the Cape Verde side and races down the left to cross into the hands of the goalkeeper.

At the other end Rainford Kalaba is going to fizz one off the wet surface is he? No...he blasts the ball 30 yards over the bar. Shocking. He has had an absolute nightmare there.

Image source, AP

There is an strange atmosphere around the Estadio Bata with so few fans in the ground. Hard to believe this a group decider.

So, with 12 minutes gone in both matches, it is Tunisia and Cape Verde going through. Plenty of time for that to change.

Equatorial Guinea and Congo will be watching on with interest - knowing the teams who go through this evening will be their quarter-final opponents.

Congo, the Group A winners, will play the runners-up while Equatorial Guinea will play the second-placed team in their quarter-final.

We could see lots drawn if both these games are drawn by the same score today. What do you think is a novel way to settle a game? Have you ever been involved in a random tie-break scenario? Tweet #bbcafcon2015.

Patrick McKean:, external The most novel way to decide a contest would be to get all of the captains together and make them play Twister!

Daniel Woodley:, external Once at school to determine the result of a basketball match we had to stand on halfway, with backs to the net, to score.

What a chance for Tunisia. In fact, they have two golden opportunities in the space of a minute.

Ahmed Akaichi races clear down the right, pulls the ball back to Ferjani Sassi and his shot is cleared off the line. The loose ball is fired goal wards and Yassine Chikhaoui stabs wide from no further than five yards out. Awful finish.

If this tournament has taught me anything it is that African goalkeepers do not like catching the ball.

Imagine the carnage then as a rarely seen up and under to keep the ball in during a Cape Verde attack, is set to drop in the six yard box. This ball has some serious hang time and Kennedy Mweene in the Zambia goal is visibly dancing on the spot with worry.

He punches into the air and then collects the ball at second attempt.

All under control lads. No need to worry.

BBC Sport's Nick Cavell in Bata:, external The kick-off was so quiet here in Bata that I missed it... I'd say around a 1,000 people in...

Evans Kangwa with a glancing header on goal from a Zambia corner...that's travelling...but a blue shirt gets in the way near the goal line. An early goal would be huge for the Chipolopolo, who know how to win this competition remember. They did so in 2012.

Image source, AFP

A positive start from Tunisia as they force a succession of corners. It looks like they are going for this...

Carlitos draws a needless foul for Cape Verde and they start with some nerve-calming possession. Horns in the crowd and yes, once again, a Vuvuzela. Can we not impose a law where they have to be melted.

A dead ball delivery from the Islanders sees Fernando Varela head way over.

Interesting to see how Tunisia approach this. A point is enough for them this evening while DR Congo need victory to ensure qualification. Stick or twist for the north Africans?

We are underway in Bata and Ebibeyin. What drama could be ahead?