The favourites have not taken long to impress in the African Nations Cup with hosts Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire winning first-round group matches.
Defending champions Tunisia, dark horses Senegal and long shots the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Guinea also triumphed in mixed eight-match fare that produced 20 goals.
Reigning African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon and less famous Francileudo dos Santos of Tunisia shared the individual honours with clinical hat-tricks.
Some of the action has lived up to the high expectations as the strongest 16-team field in the 49-year history of the competition battles for supremacy across north-east Egypt.
There has been pedestrian football, too, while any follower suffering from insomnia need watch only a few minutes of the clash between Guinea and South Africa before dozing off.
And observers predicting an African football revolution after shock-riddled 2006 World Cup qualifiers may have to think again as Germany-bound Angola, Ghana and Togo managed just one goal between them and secured no points.
Egypt outclassed Libya 3-0 and Côte d’Ivoire edged Morocco 1-0 to take early control of group A, and the Ivorian success was achieved without key striker Aruna Dindane, whose daughter died on the eve of the match.
Local hero Ahmed ”Mido” Hossam fittingly scored the first goal of the biennial tournament, racing unopposed into the penalty area to head home a far-post corner.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was not at his best, but picked himself up after being fouled to slot home the penalty that left subdued Morocco, the 2004 runners-up, facing an early exit.
Group B could be all over by Wednesday if Cameroon, champions a record-equalling four times, defeat Togo and the DRC maintain a bright start by overcoming Angola.
Eto’o barely raised a sweat as he demolished the gallant Angolans, converting a free kick, heading a cross in from close range and unleashing an unstoppable shot from outside the penalty area.
Another striker, Lomana LuaLua, made the first goal and scored the second as the DRC beat Togo more convincingly than the 2-0 score suggests, with many spectators wondering how the lacklustre losers made it to the World Cup.
Just days after claiming he was prepared to die for his country, Togo scoring machine Emmanuel Adebayor refused to play following clashes with coach Stephen Keshi, and then came on in the second half without making an impact.
Tunisia shook off conceding a soft early goal to Zambia and powered to an impressive 4-1 win in a group C game of many chances and flowing football, with Brazil-born Dos Santos revelling in the space afforded him.
His hat-trick comprised a looping header, a close-range flick and a typical burst of speed that took him past goalkeeper George Kolola before stroking the ball in from an acute angle.
Spiritless South Africa were even worse than Libya and Togo as late goals from unrelated substitutes Sambegou and Ousmane Bangoura gave Guinea a 2-0 win and a realistic chance of advancing to the knockout phase.
From the time the draw was made last October, the West African showdown of former champions Nigeria and Ghana in group D appeared the pick of the first series of matches, and so it proved.
Despite missing injured stars Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan, Ghana held firm until falling asleep when Nigeria were awarded a late free kick and defender Taye Taiwo scored to become the unlikely hero.
Several Senegal misses in a 2-0 win over limited Zimbabwe defied belief, with twice African Footballer of the Year El Hadji Diouf and Rahmane Barry failing from point-blank range.
Only one red card was raised with tearful Libya goalkeeper Luis de Agustini banished in the second half after a second caution for pulling back Amr Zaki with Egypt two goals ahead.
Stringent security conditions were blamed for the failure of Egypt to attract a capacity 74 000 crowd, while attendances at other venues were above average for a tournament where only hosts traditionally draw big support. — Sapa-AFP