Football-Africa - Co-favourite Cote d'Ivoire takes the stage after opening day shockers. After surprise results in Saturday's opening day of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, when debutant and host Equatorial Guinea as well as Zambia recorded shock victories, co-favourite Cote d'Ivoire is among the four teams that will take the stage later on Sunday.

Equatorial Guinea got on to the best possible start in Bata, one the venues, when it beat Libya 1-0 in a group A opener on Saturday night.

Midfielder Javier Balboa scored the all-important goal, which is the country's first-ever at the biennial tournament and will reportedly fetch the lucky scorer US$1 million from the son of the President.

In the group's second match of the day, Zambia upset Senegal with a 2-1 win, also in Bata.

Goals from Emmanuel Mayuka and Rainford Kalaba inside 20 minutes put the Chipolopolo on the road to victory, before Dame N’Doye pulled one back for the Teranga Lions of Senegal.

On Sunday, the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire will clash with the Desert Hawks of Sudan, while the Palancas Negras of Angola will take on the Stallions of Burkina Faso in opening group B matches in Malabo.

In the absence of acclaimed giants Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire is regarded as one of the favourites to lift the 2012 Nations Cup title, alongside Ghana, Tunisia and Senegal.

The 21 Jan-12 Feb Nations Cup is being co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Pana 22/01/2012