The 26th MTN African Cup of Nations taking place in Ghana is replete with animals, carnivores and herbivores; land dwellers and amphibians; crawlers and fliers as well as gigantic and miniature creatures, all donning the colours of participating nations.
There are three Prides of Lions, three Flocks of Eagles, one Herd of Elephants, a Horde of Squirrels, a Field of Antelopes and a Pool of Crocodiles, competing for honours in Africa's most prestigious sports festival.
And, of course, with such a line up of teams, there is bound to be danger for some of them who may fall prey to those with better ability to cause damage to the others.
In Group A, the Atlas Lions of Morocco are supposed to be the most dreaded species, based on the predatory instincts of the Lion, but it appears they are only dominant in the regions of the Atlas Mountains.
The red shirted Moroccan Lions have failed to live by the characteristics of their name and are home bound after the preliminary rounds, departing with the Brave Warriors of Namibia, while the Black Stars of Ghana and the Syli Nationale of Guinea have sailed to round two.
In Group B, the field is entirely made up animals of various kinds; birds, a giant plant eating animal, which prides itself with the niche of a Jungle King and a beautiful, tiny, clever land hopper with incredible speed that derives satisfaction in nuts.
Here the form guide has prevailed with the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire going unscathed after three rounds of matches.
The Battle of the Eagles favoured the Super Eagles of Nigeria who preyed on the Squirrels of Benin to survive, as the Elephants trampled on the Malian Eagles, breaking their bones to post an Eagle obituary.
The Crocodiles of Sudan had sworn to devour the resurrected medieval Kings of the Nile, who go by the title of Pharaohs. The Nile Crocodiles broke their jaws in the process and are now pondering if names of carnivores, indeed, give any advantage in a duel against ghosts or other cordial creatures.
The Pharaohs seem to have immunity against attacks from beasts. They survived in the Lions' den, beating the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 4-2 in a match where the Lions were tamed and domesticated by the ancient rulers from the home of civilization.
But watch out for the Cameroonian Lions; they are capable of coming back into reckoning with sharper claws and stronger jaws.
The speed of the Antelope seems to be the ace of the Angolans who go by the nickname of Palancras Negras, meaning the Black Antelopes.
The Antelopes sprang away from the Teranga Lions of Senegal, who remain hungry and may starve to elimination if the results of the final day do not go in their favour.
And in another confrontation of Lions, the Carthage Lions of Tunisia failed to inflict any harm on the Teranga Lions as they settled for a 2-2 draw, but the Tunisian Lions had enough power to maim the Bafana Bafana (the Boys, the Boys) 3-1.
The Battle for the African Crown is gathering momentum and the Elephant, the Lions and the Eagles are poised to fight to the finish with their animal characteristics and try to devour the Antelope.
But can they halt the sparkle of the Black Stars of Ghana or kill the enterprise of the Syli Nationale?
Time will tell.