2017 AFRICA CUP - GROUP A - DAY 05 - GABON VS BURKINA FASO 1:1
Africa Cup 2017
Group A
Day 05
9th match
Gabon vs Burkina Faso 1:1
Goal Gabon:
Aubameyang (38' pen.)
Goal Burkina Faso:
Nakoulma (23’)
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Key play
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his second goal of the Africa Cup of Nations to earn hosts Gabon a point from their match with Burkina Faso.
The Borussia Dortmund striker scored a 38th-minute penalty to secure his side's second 1:1 draw in Group A.
Burkina Faso took the lead when Prejuce Nakoulma latched on to a long ball and held off two players to score.
Herve Koffi tipped Denis Bouanga's drive onto the bar early on and denied him again with his legs on 81 minutes.
Those saves made up for the Burkina Faso goalkeeper's error when he brought down Aubameyang for the penalty.
Bouanga will look back at the late chance as an opportunity he should have taken, having latched on to Aubameyang's downward header in the box only to direct his shot too close to Koffi.
There was still time for Bouanga to almost atone for the miss and his excellent delivery into the penalty area deserved better than to be headed wide by an unmarked Kevyn Aboue Angoue.
Burkina Faso's clearest chance was created by Alain Traore, who cut into the box between two defenders and sent a shot towards the far corner only to see it well saved by Didier Ovono.
All three games so far in Group A have been drawn, with Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau to play later on Wednesday.
Burkina Faso's chances of progress appear to be higher, given they will face rank outsiders and debutants Guinea-Bissau on Sunday.
But they could well be without key man Jonathan Pitroipa, who was stretchered off after only 11 minutes against Gabon.
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Line-ups
Gabon
01. Ovono
08. Palun
02. Appindangoyé
05. Ecuele Manga
06. Obiang
• Substituted for Ze Ondo at minutes
04. Tandjigora
• Substituted for Martinsson-Ngouali at 67'minutes
22. Ndong
17. Biyogo Poko
• Substituted for Aboue Angoue at 75'minutes
07. Evouna
02. Bouanga
09. Aubameyang
Substitutes
03. Obambou
10. Lemina
11. Madinda
12. Kanga
13. Mbingui
14. Aboue Angoue
15. Biyoghe
16. Mfa Mezui
18. Martinsson-Ngouali
19. Ze Ondo
21. Wachter
23. Bitseki Moto
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Burkina Faso
16. Koffi - Booked at 37mins
05. Malo
14. Dayo
04. Koné
02. 0Coulibaly
18. Kabore
08. Traore
17. Sundy Zongo
• Substituted for Traore at 54'minutes
11. Pitroipa
• Substituted for Nakoulma at 11'minutes
10. Traore
• Substituted for Bouba Saré at 77'minutes
09. Diawara
Substitutes
01. Sawadogo
02. Yago
03. Paro
06. Bouba Saré
07. Nakoulma
12. Guira
13. Koanda
15. Bancé
19. Traore
21. Bayala
22, Blati Touré
23, Sanou
Referee:
Bakary Gassama
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MATCH PREVIEW
Hosts Gabon will be looking for a vastly improved performance when they take on Burkina Faso in their second Group A game on Wednesday.
Giving away a late equaliser to minnows Guinea Bissau in Saturday's opener at the Stade l'Amitie put Gabon under immediate pressure.
But a draw in the other group game between Burkina Faso and Cameroon means all four teams are level.
Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is again key to the home team's hope after scoring the tournament's opening goal but carries a heavy burden of expectation, while Burkina Faso have a much more experienced team and could dent home hopes.
Aubameyang knows he and his team-mates let supporters of the central African team down and has promised a better performance against opponents they beat 2:0 at the same stage two years ago.
"We have learnt from our mistakes," said the 27-year-old born in France to a Gabonese father and a Spanish mother, making him eligible to represent three nations.
He opted for Gabon, a country once captained by his father who have never gone further than the quarter-finals at the Cup of Nations.
"I remain positive that we can reach our first goal, which is qualifying for the knockout phase,.
"We have lofty ambitions in this tournament and playing at home in front of our wonderful supporters is a great advantage.
"Mistakes were made against Guinea-Bissau, like conceding a goal in the final minute. We must now rectify those errors and defeat Burkina Faso."
Burkina Faso
Gabon