Gabon win as hosts held in Africa Cup of Nations

BATA - Gabon seized control of Group A after the opening round of matches at the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, beating Burkina Faso 2-0 while hosts Equatorial Guinea drew with Congo Brazzaville.

Jorge Costa's Panthers triumphed in Bata thanks to a goal in each half, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's opener after 19 minutes being followed by a Malick Evouna strike on 72 minutes.

Aubameyang, the Gabon captain who plays his club football in Germany for Borussia Dortmund, kept his cool to finish after initially being denied by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Germain Sanou.

That goal came on the break, with the Stallions dominating the game, and the 2013 Cup of Nations runners-up were then denied an equaliser in the second half when Didier Ovono saved from Bertrand Traore.

Soon after, Evouna clinched the win for Gabon to leave Paul Put's Burkina Faso already up against it in their bid to reach the last eight.

"If you can't score goals, you can't win matches. That's the rule of this game," lamented Put, while his opposite number Costa admitted luck was on Gabon's side.

"Burkina Faso are the strongest in our group, but today we had the luck and we also had Didier (Ovono). He was decisive for us."
 

Burkina's forward Jonathan Pitroipa (C) vies with Gabon's midfielder Andre Biyogo Poko

Gabon's defender Bruno Ecuele Manga receives medical assistance

Security was tight at Bata Stadium where the opening matches were played

Earlier, the hosts' dream of starting their campaign with a win were cruelly spoiled as a late Thievy Bifouma strike earned Congo Brazzaville a 1-1 draw.

Bifouma, of Spanish side Almeria, slid the ball under Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Felipe Ovono three minutes from time to cancel out captain Emilio Nsue's 16th-minute strike and ensure that the tournament's opening game ended all square.

It was a pulsating encounter, played in front of a sell-out crowd of 35,000 in Bata, in the best possible start for a competition which was only moved to Equatorial Guinea at the last minute following Morocco's withdrawal over Ebola fears.

Le Roy fumes

However, Congo coach Claude Le Roy was left fuming after his side were held up in traffic jams on their way to the game.

"We were in traffic for 65 minutes under 40-degree heat and so if our performance at the beginning of the match was poor, it was because of this," the veteran Frenchman said.

"It usually takes us 12 minutes. The CAF (Confederation of African Football) should be able to protect all the teams in the competition and not disrespect some of them.

"It was great that Equatorial Guinea saved this competition, they are fantastic people, but we should uphold fair play."

The stadium in Bata was already an impressive sea of bright red as thousands of passionate home fans enjoyed the tournament's opening ceremony, which was attended by Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the president of the tiny, oil-rich country.
 

Equatorial Guinea's supporters were full voice behind their team on Saturday

Equatorial Guinea's defender Sipo Bohale (C) vies with Congo's forward Thierry Bifouma eyed by Congo's coach Claude Le Roy

The 'magic spray' is being applied in the Nations Cup

He would have been delighted when Nsue, the Spanish-born skipper of the Nzalang Nacional, slid the ball under Congo goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi following fine build-up play by Kike Eboula early on.

Exciting youngster Iban Edu almost raised the roof with an attempt from fully 50 yards shortly before half-time, and both Javier Balboa and Nsue had further chances for the hosts in the second half.

Nsue was then denied what surely would have been a killer second goal when a superb lob over the outrushing Mafoumbi found the net but was harshly disallowed for offside.

That proved to be a turning point, as Congo hung in the game.

When substitute Ladislas Douniama somehow headed against the post with the goal gaping, it looked as if their chance had gone, but Bifouma made no mistake when his opportunity arose.

However, Equatorial Guinea coach Esteban Becker was not disappointed with his side's start, saying: "We could have had all three points, and it's a shame to drop two in the last five minutes.

"But I am very pleased with my players and it was a fair result."

The second round of Group A games will be played in Bata on Wednesday, with the hosts taking on Burkina Faso before Gabon meet Congo.

Sunday sees the opening round of matches in Group B as 2012 champions Zambia meet DR Congo and Tunisia take on Cape Verde in the remote outpost of Ebebiyin.

AFP