I have been five days in Tamale covering all that is going on in Group D at the 2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, and already I could be writing reams of copy detailing my adventures. For now we will keep it brief and try and get in as much of the action as I can.

As one would expect covering the Africa Cup of Nations was always going to be a challenge and I did not think it was going to be as easy as following The Amakhosi around South Africa.

While Bafana Bafana flew on charter flight to Tamale, myself and the rest of the South African contingent of journalist went via Accra and had to go through the gruelling process of getting accredited for the tournament - that in itself needs detailing since getting into Tamale, getting stories out has not been easy, although once the matches kick off, we have been told that we will be able to connect to the internet.

The stadium in Tamale has caught many of the visitors by surprise. It was built by a Chinese firm and is a really modern facility in this wind swept town.

Surprises have been a plenty on this journey one of them was walking into the Tamale Stadium while the Senegalese team were training on Tuesday evening, only to look up at the giant screen to see the technician who was testing out the screen was playing a DVD of the late South African musician Lucky Dube.

Of the teams in Group D Senegal have been attracting the most attention given the fact that their team is a star- studded one - it is hardly surprising. El Hadji Diouf seems to be the crowd favourite and he has obliged at every turn whether it is to give an autograph, shake hands or take pictures with supporters.

To me the Sengalese look like the team to beat in Group D and could we have the next African Champions in the Terranga Lions it waits to be seen. Just looking at the team, they seem to have an aurora and self belief that they can do well at the tournament.

Bafana Bafana have opted to stay in a hotel just on the edge of town and have the tightest security of all the teams based in this northern Ghanaian town, Kaizerchiefs.com though have still been able to get up close with both Itumeleng Khune and Siphiwe Tshabalala.

The South African team train in the mornings and after the session the media have the opportunity to interview selected players. On Tuesday Itumeleng Khune was one of the selected players who had to answer questions. The Amakhosi keeper was composed and calm as he did well to answer questions when fired upon from the Ghanaian, South African and Tunisian press.

For my part it has been hardwork as I am contributing to another soccer website in addition to kaizerchiefs.com, and have my articles edited by Mark Gleeson who is on my case and is expecting me to have stories to him before any other news agency gets them. It has meant that I am attending four training sessions and as many press conferences every day. South Africa do have a number of travelling journalist, but it pales in comparison to the group travelling with Senegal. The Terranga Lions have by far the biggest number of travelling fans; it might also be worth a mention that Bafana Bafana have a sizeable contingent of fans in Tamale who made the journey from S.A.

The first couple of days at the Africa Cup of Nations have been entertaining and exciting and we will be holding fingers for Bafana Bafana in their opening game against Angola on Wednesday which our own Siphiwe Tshabalala will be starting in for South Africa.