BATA, Equatorial Guinea -- Burkina Faso's band of travelling supporters has been a reassuringly constant presence around the Hotel Federaciones, in the grounds of Bata's stadium, during the first eight days of this African Nations Cup. Whatever might happen on the pitch, they outstayed their team: coach Paul Put was appalled that his players were lodged here, among fans and a constantly revolving door of journalists and sundry others, at the start of the competition and after likening conditions...

BATA, Equatorial Guinea -- Three quick thoughts from Wednesday's 0-0 draw between Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso in Group A of the 2015 African Nations Cup.

1. Something isn't right with Burkina Faso

The first two games of Burkina Faso's African Nations Cup was neatly summed up by a passage of play six minutes before half-time.

Alain Traore had already hit the post with an 18th-minute free-kick when, located on the left corner of the penalty area by a cross from the right, he attempted...

While five draws headlined the action on the field in the first round of matches at the 2015 African Nations' Cup, several off-field issues came to light in the tournament's first week.

In regards to the actual football being played, Gabon, Algeria and Senegal emerged as the early leaders after a cagey first round. The five draws from the first eight matches may not serve as the best advertisement for the tournament, and it largely speaks to the cautiousness of teams too nervous to put a foot...

MONGOMO, Equatorial Guinea -- Moussa Sow's injury-time goal gave Senegal a stunning 2-1 win over Avram Grant's Ghana in the opening game of Group C at the 2015 African Nations Cup. Here are three quick points on Tuesday's game.

1. Senegal must now be taken seriously

Senegal have been tipped as a sneaky bet to win this tournament by some, and it's not hard to see why. Alain Giresse has put their house in order and they conceded only once in qualifying; in attack, they are able to call upon an...

It was an incredible moment and one that would certainly have been impossible to envision just 10 weeks ago. Equatorial Guinea had started well against Republic of Congo, with their largely Spanish-educated team flicking, darting and pirouetting around tentative, lumping opponents and delighting a crowd that needed little invitation to raise the roof.

Sixteen minutes in, the style gained substance. Right-winger Kike spun free on the right, not for the first time, and cleaved into a defence that...

We already expect Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Yacine Brahimi and Wilfried Bony to evade defenses at the 2015 African Nations Cup. That's what they have been doing in Germany, Portugal and the United Kingdom over the past few months.

We've already backed Kennedy Mweene, Robert Kidiaba and Moez Ben Cherifia to pull off stunning saves. We've seen all three do it before.

We already know Yaya Toure will stand out. At 6-foot-2, how could the African footballer of the year, crowned by CAF for the...