Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea: Africa Cup of Nations – live

18 min Coco brings theball out nicely, then plays a ludicrous square-pass that has Orozco nashing over in a panic to clear, before Iwobi can collect.

16 min EQ are in! A long goalkick is picked up by Nsue, running in behind, then, after turning inside Ajayi, he might shoot, but instead dives between Sanusi and Troost-Ekong. He’s penalised for handball in winning the initial challenge, but if I’m the ref – for avoidance of doubt, I’m not – I’m booking him anyway.

15 min I’m a little surprised Calvin Bassey is on the bench, because I think he’s Nigeria’s best centre-back. I’d also be looking for a way to get Samuel Chukwueze into the team, but him and Kelechi Iheanacho on the bench are decent options.

14 min The delivery isn’t bad, to the back post, and Troost-Ekong nobs back across then, when the ball’s half-cleared, Yusuf pokes over the bar.

13 min Sanusi, playing high and wide as a left-back, is soon back into the action, going outside Salvador and beating him, only to be hauled back by the shorts. That’s usually a booking, but this time the ref keeps his cards in his pocket and Sanusi prepares to send over an outswinger.

12 min Nigeria, by the way, have won Afcon thrice but not since 2013. They’ll know – in fairness, they almost always know – that this is a really good chance for them.

10 min What a miss Sanusi! Yusuf goes down the right and whips over a tremendous low cross that misses everyone in the middle, arriving at the back post where Sanusi just has to compose and pass inside the near post. But the panic sets in, the head goes back, and the finish wafts over the top.

7 min My coverage cuts out, but we’re back now, Ndong taking treatment for some kind of collision.

6 min It feels like a Nigeria goal is coming, Yusuf coming inside to curl in a cross which grazes the top of Osimhen’s head, forcing Owono to save at the far post. Ah, but Osimhen was offside – though the balance of play still suggests an opener is imminent.

5 min A poor kick from Owono goes straight to Iwobi, who immediately finds Osimhen with men in space on either side. But from 20 yards, he opts to try a curler, but instead of drawing it fades – well wide.

4 min First flash of EQ, Akapo moving down the right and drilling a cross to the near post, where Nwabali claims easily enough.

3 min Sanusi comes down the left and swings over a cross towards the back post, seeking Osimhen, but again Owono – who’s just 22 – is there to claim.

2 min Anyone been to EQ? I was in Portugal in the summer looking for dolphins, and the guide said the most he’s ever seen came off the cost there – though bigups were also given to Mauritania.

2 min Nigeria immediately get going, Iwobi leathering a bouncing ball from 20 yards that swerves a bit before Owono saves easily enough.

1 min And away we go!

Phew, we’re there now. The coverage reclons Nigeria are playing 4-3-3, which makes a fair bit mroe sense.

I’m struggling to get the coverage on to my computer, so for now it’s phone-based, but the teams are out and it’s anthem time.

Back to the tunes for a moment, if I may, there’s an Afcon connection to what might already be the single of the year: coming from Ghana to the world, Smallgod and Black Sherif’s ridiculously gorgeous Fallen Angel. Get involved, immediately.

BBC also have Iwobi down as the second coming of Matthias Sammer. I can’t wait to see how it works out.

While I investigate, here’s a playlist of Nigerian tunes – hastily assembled, so apologies for anything I’ve missed.

Yeah, that Nigeria lineup looks a little odd to me too; that’s how Google have them lining up, but I’d be less than shocked if, when the game starts, Alex Iwobi is not in fact playing as a libero.

Nigeria (5-4-1): Nwabilli; Aina, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Iwobi, Sanusi; Yusuf, Lookman, Onyeka, Simon; Osimhen. Subs: Uzoho, Musa, Aribo, Chukwueze, Osayi-Samuel, Onyemaechi, Iheanacho, Onuachu, Awaziem, Bassey, Omeruo, Onyedika.

Equatorial Guinea (4-2-3-1): Owono; Akapo, Orozco-Fernandez, Coco, Ndong, Ganet, Bikoro, Buyla, Pepiun, Salvador; Nsue. Subs: Senra, Anieboh, Elo, Ondo, Embela, Balboa, Ela, Nlanvo, Eneme, Sapunga, Nabil, Siafa.

Greeting all and welcome to Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea!

The Super Eagles are one of the tournament favourites, and will feel confident of starting with a win against the rank outsiders known as the National Thunder – in order, says the Caf website, “to scare the opponents and anyone who wants to doubt them whatsoever”.

Your favourite turf accountants reckon both Morocco and Ivory Coast – who opened Group A last evening with a win over Guinea-Bissau – are more likely winners than Nigeria. But neither of those sides has a player remotely like Victor Osimhen, who might just make this tournament his own personal possession, and it’s especially hard to see how he might be stopped this afternoon.

However, tournament football history is, to large extent, defined by teams finding ways to play above themselves so, though EQ have a colossal task ahead of them, don’t be surprised if they make a decent fist of it – for a while at least.

Kick-off: 2pm GMT