The hosts of major tournaments often receive a major boost that sometimes see them defy expectations, and watching Equatorial Guinea dispatch a technically superior Gabonese side with a screaming stadium at their back certainly lends credence to that claim.
The final round of games in Group A was finely poised, with all four sides in with a chance of qualification. Gabon challenged the hosts, whilst Congo looked to seal their spot with a win over Burkina Faso.
Equatorial Guinea picked up a 2-0 win in a memorable encounter in front of a packed home crowd, whilst Claude Le Roy’s Congo dispatched Burkina Faso by 2-1.
Gabon was the better side for a long while in their game, but an inspired performance by Felipe Ovono in posts for the hosts kept the game level well past half time.
The first half began at a furious pace, either side proving good on the ball with lighting quick build up play. Gabon had the better opportunities, captain Aubameyang coming closest with a powerful header that was turned away by the hosts’ number one.
