It is only Match Day 2 in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, but it looks like the tournament is already here.
Match Day 2 of the competition rolls today with some heavyweight clashes, perhaps, fit for the tournament itself.
In West Africa, a rejuvenated Cameroun face a strong Cote d'Ivoire side, even without their talisman, Didier Drogba, while South Africa also host African champions, Nigeria. Up north, Egypt host Tunisia in what could be a volatile game, considering the rivalry that exists between these two sides.
It is dicey for both Cote d'Ivoire's Elephants and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun, as they seek to consolidate their lead on top of the Group D standings.
Over the weekend, both sides won their games. Cote d'Ivoire were saved by a late goal by Gervinho to win 2-1 against Sierra Leone, while Cameroun were 2-0 winners over DR Congo.
So far, the Elephants and Lions have proved that they can cope without their retired captains and talismen, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o and it will be interesting to see how the battle ends. With their fierce nature, the Lions could inflict some pain on the Elephants though.
Never been able to beat Nigeria before, South Africa's Bafana Bafana are hoping there will be a first time for them when they welcome Nigeria's Super Eagles.
Under coach Shakes Mashaba, Bafana Bafana have bagged their first three points, beating the Sudan 3-0 in Khartoum. Surprisingly, the, Super Eagles, under their title winning coach, Stephen Keshi, lost 2-3 to late entrants, Congo in Calabar.
Congo were readmitted into the competition, after Rwanda pulled out over Ebola concerns.
However, the Eagles are poised to recover from that slip and vent their spleen on the South Africans, even in their own backyard in Cape Town.
