Tournament hosts Ghana won the opening match of the African Nations Cup after a stunning late strike from Sulley Muntari claimed all three points against Guinea in Accra.
Asamoah Gyan opened the scoring early in the second half from the penalty spot, before Oumar Kalabane levelled for the visitors to set up a tense finish.
Portsmouth midfielder Muntari had the final say, however, with a wonderful 20-yard shot which flew into the top right-hand corner to send the home fans into raptures.
A colourful opening ceremony preceded the kick-off of the 26th edition of the competition with several notable names amongst the dignitaries including Ghana president John Kufuor and FIFA chief Sepp Blatter.
The game started with a bang with plenty of chances in the opening 10 minutes.
Gyan had the best early opportunity after being put through by Muntari, but he put his six-yard shot wide.
Guinea goalkeeper Kemoko Camara then made the first of a number of errors when he passed a goal-kick straight into the path of Gyan, who this time mis-hit his shot as Ghana did all the early pressing.
The visitors' first chance arrived when captain Pascal Feindouno picked out Kalabane with his free-kick, but the defender's header was over the bar.
Then came the first of three Ghanaian efforts which hit the post.
After a neat cross from Quincy Owusu-Abeyie on the left, the ball was headed onto the goalkeeper's left upright by Junior Agogo before rolling agonisingly across the face of goal.
The home side continued to call the shots, but Guinea had their chances in between with the next opportunity falling to Ismael Bangoura, who, instead of laying it on for a team-mate, shot straight at the keeper.
Michael Essien was next to hit the post as his header from a Laryea Kingston corner came back off the upright from close-range shortly before the half-hour mark.
In the 36th minute, Gyan got the ball in the net but was deemed to have fouled a Guinean defender, before it was third time lucky for Guinea as Muntari struck the left upright from a tight angle inside the penalty area on the left.
Immediately after the break, Agogo missed an easy chance from close-range as an impatient home crowd roared them forward in search of the opener.
And it finally arrived in the 54th minute when referee Eddy Maillet awarded a penalty after Agogo was brought down by Kalabane and Gyan made no mistake by firing high into the goal.
The visitors replied nine minutes later with Kalabane redeeming himself when he rose highest to nod home Feindouno's corner.
As the game wore on, both sides resorted to long-range strikes, with poor finishing keeping the scoreline level.
In the 78th minute, Ghana almost edged ahead but Camara spectacularly saved Andre Ayew's shot.
But the hosts were not to be denied with Muntari emerging as the hero.
