In light of Friday's CAF Africa Cup of Nations group-stage draw in Cairo, ESPN picks out five mouth-watering games to look forward in the first round.

The expanded 24-team format has meant more inclusion for the continent's lesser lights, while the traditional heavyweights have been spread around the groups.

However, there's absolutely no shortage of intrigue in the first round following a compelling first-round draw.

Tanzania vs. Kenya, June 27, 30 June Stadium, Cairo

East African derbies...

The six groups for the expanded Africa Cup of Nations were drawn in a glamorous ceremony in the shadow of the Pyramids of Giza, just outside Cairo, on Friday, as the 24 teams learned their first-round opponents.

With the group stage mapped out, what should fans expect from the opening round of fixtures, where are the potential upsets, and who are the players to watch in African football's biennial showpiece?

Group A

Teams: Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Overview:

Egypt had...

When the Confederation of African Football ratified an expansion to the Africa Cup of Nations in July 2017, introducing eight more teams to the biennial competition, the dynamic of the qualifying program was always going to change.

As had been the case ahead of the European Championship in 2016, for which UEFA had instigated an increase from 16 to 24 teams, many of the continent's heavyweights cruised to the tournament with games to spare.

However, an overall decrease in drama among the bigger nations...