Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea has beaten Libya 1 goal to nill.

This followed a goalless first half during the opening Orange African Cup of Nations game in Bata.

Javier-Angel Balboa scored after racing onto a throughball and slotting past Libya goalkeeper Samir Aboud into the top corner in the 87th minute.

Thierry Fidjeu scored the first ever goal at AFCON 2012

Libya had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half.

Equatorial Guinea players were offered some $1 million by the son of their president if they won the tournament’s first match.

Equatorial Guinea’s agriculture minister Teodoro Nguema, the son of the small, oil-rich country’s president, told players he would give them 500 million CFA to share if they won and a further 10 million CFA (about $20 000) for each goal scored, the country’s official government website www.guineaecuatorialpress.com reported this week.