Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty rescues a point for Gabon against Burkina Faso
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ByEurosport
Updated 18/01/2017 at 23:03 GMT
Africa Cup of Nations Group A, Stade de l'Amitié - Gabon (Aubameyang 38' pen.) Burkina Faso (Nakoulma 23')
Gabon's forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang runs with the ball after scoring a penalty during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group A football match between Gabon and Burkina Faso at the Stade de l'Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville
Image credit: AFP
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty rescued a point for Gabon against Burkina Faso in their Group A match which finished 1-1.
Though Gabon dominated from the start, they found themselves a goal down when they failed to deal with a long ball from one of their own corners, and Prejuce Nakoulma prodded home.
The tournament hosts looked like they would continue to suffer, after drawing in their opening match with Cameroon, but were fortunate to equalise when Kouakou Herve Koffi conceded a witless penalty, giving the chance for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score his second in two games.
Both sides had chances in the second half, but excellent stops from the 'keepers kept the scores level. This was the third consecutive Group A match to finish 1-1.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shows his frustration
Image credit: AFP
TALKING POINT
Can Burkina Faso somehow qualify? They have only got two points from the first two games, but draws against Cameroon and Gabon have shown enough resilience to give them a chance of qualification. If they can win their last game against Guinea-Bissau they could be through to the knockout stages.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Didier Ovono (Gabon): The experienced goalkeeper would have hoped for an easier match than this, but he kept his focus and his team in the game when they were under pressure in the second half. One smart stop from a deflected free kick and another save from Bernard Traore were particularly impressive.
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Gabon's forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang takes a penalty kick to score his team's equaliser during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group A football match between Gabon and Burkina Faso at the Stade de l'Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
Gabon: Ovono 7, Palun 6, Ecuélé Manga 6, Appindangoyé 6, Obiang 6; Ndong 6, Tanjigora 6, Poko 6, Bouanga 6, Evouna 6, Aubameyang 6. Subs: Ngouali 6, Ze Ondo 6, Kevyn 6.
Burkina Faso: Koffi 7; Malo 6, Dayo 6, Koné 6, Coulibaly 7, A. Traoré 6, Kaboré 6; Jonathan 6, Pitroipa 6, Traoré 6, Diawara 6. Subs: Nakoulma 6, Bernard Traore 7, Sare 6.
KEY EVENTS
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Highlights as Gabon and Burkina Faso draw 1-1
23' - GOAL! Gabon 0-1 Burkina Faso. Nakoulma scores - From a Gabon corner, the ball is launched high into the air, beyond two defenders. It bounces, Nakoulma steals in to take the ball, and slips it past two defenders and Ovono to put his side ahead.
37' - PENALTY! Aubameyang chases a long ball down the inside left, Koffi runs out to the edge of the box and cleans him out. It's an obvious foul, and a pointless challenge - there was no great danger.
38' - GOAL! Gabon 1-1 Burkina Faso. Aubameyang scores - He takes a few steps and drives the shot down the left of the goal as Koffi dives the other way.
58' - TRAORE CHANCE - B. Traore saloms into the box, he lines up a shot from the right, and Ovona dives to his left to palm it away.
60' - OVONO SAVE - The free kick from Diawara is deflected, wrong-footeing Ovona, and he does excellently to change his stance and flap it away under pressure.
81' - KOFFI SAVE - A superb save from Koffi. A cross is headed into the danger area by Aubameyang. Bouanga latches onto it just outside the six-yard box, and Koffi sticks out a leg to force it away.
KEY STAT
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has two goals in two appearances so far.
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