Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spurned a golden opportunity as hosts Gabon exited the Africa Cup of Nations at the group stages having been held to a goalless draw by Cameroon at Stade de l'Amitié.
The perfect chance fell the 27-year-old’s way with only a couple of minutes on the clock when he was found at the back post by Denis Bouanga but inexplicably put the ball wide from two or three yards out.
Gabon failed to carve out any further chances of note until the 90th minute when Bouanga agonisingly struck the post and then Fabrice Ondoa pulled off a remarkable save to deny Sunderland's Didier Ndong from the rebound.
There were tears at the final whistle as José Antonio Camacho’s side become the first host nation to fail to progress from the group stages since Tunisia in 1994. Meanwhile, Cameroon finish second, behind Burkina Faso who recorded a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.
TALKING POINT
That Aubameyang miss. You would have put your house on the skipper scoring to give his side a dream start but instead it proved to be a nightmare for Gabon and that opportunity will haunt the Dortmund striker for quite some time. He may have scored twice in earlier matches but in truth Aubameyang had a poor tournament, though he wasn’t provided the adequate service in midfield.
Horrendous miss from Aubameyang as Gabon star scuffs wide from close range
MAN OF THE MATCH
Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon): Recovered well after an unconvincing first-half display and deserves the plaudits for that remarkable reflex save in the dying stages.
Cameroon's goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa (C) blocks a shot on goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group A football match between Cameroon and Gabon at the Stade de l'Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on January 22, 2017.
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
Cameroon: Ondoa 8, Fai 6, Teikeu 6, N’Koulou 6 , Oyongo Bitolo 6, Siani 7, Ngadeu-Ngadjui 6, Bassogog 8, Moukandjo 6, Salli 7, Tambe 7. Subs: Zoua 6, Aboubakar 6, Ekambi 6.
Gabon: Ovono 6, Palun 7, Appindangoye 6, Ecuele Manga 5, Ze Ondo 6, Poko 5, Ndong 5, Martinsson-Ngouali 5, Bouanga 7, Aubameyang 4, Evouna 5. Subs: Mbingui 5, Kevyn 5, Wachter 5.
KEY MOMENTS
2’ - CHANCE! Ondoa somehow drops the ball from a relatively simple cross but it falls awkwardly for Aubameyang who can't get his shot away and Cameroon clear.
3’ - MISS! Oh my, how does Aubameyang put this wide? He is picked out at the back post from a Bouanga cross but sends the ball wide from two or three yards out. Unforgivable.
Gabon's forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacts during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group A football match between Cameroon and Gabon at the Stade de l'Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on January 22, 2017.
Image credit: AFP
14’ - INCHES WIDE! An in-swinging cross is delivered into the penalty area where Teikeu heads narrowly wide. So close for Cameroon.
20’ - SAVE! Bouanga overhits his cross but Ondoa misjudges the flight of the ball and has to make a fingertip stop to deny Gabon taking the lead. The goalkeeper fell awkwardly and appears to have hurt his shoulder.
61’ - CHANCE! Bouanga opts to shoot from the resulting free-kick and forces Ondoa into a finger-tip save. Gabon have a corner now.
90’ - CHANCES! Gabon spurn not one but two golden opportunities! Bouanga is denied by the post and then Ondoa produces a remarkable save to deny Ndong from the rebound!
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