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Equatorial Guinea, Congo march on

Humphreys, Philip WilliamJanuary 25, 2015

The host nation advanced with Congo to the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations after both secured wins in the deciding round of Group A matches. Gabon and Burkina Faso were left packing their bags for home.

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Gabun gegen Äuatorialguinea African Cup of Nations 2015
Image: C.de Souza/AFP/Getty Images

After a drab first half befitting the general standard of play to date, the Estadio De Ebebiyin witnessed one of the most open 45 minutes of the tournament so far.

Both sides created several goal-scoring chances before Equatorial Guinea closed out a 2-0 victory which qualified it from the group in second place behind Congo.

The hosts needed nothing less than a win to go through but it was Gabon which started the second half with more purpose. Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and then Frederic Bulot forced smart saves from home goalkeeper Felipe Ovono.

For Gabon a draw should have been enough but the complexion of group A changed completely on a disputed decision in the 55thminute, when Lloyd Palun was adjudged to have brought down Javier Balboa in the box. The call by Ivory Coast referee Noumandiez Doue looked tough on Palun, but Balboa picked himself up to put the ball beyond the reach of Didier Ovono.

Bulot then missed an open goal for Gabon under pressure from a covering defender, while at the other end Ovono needed two grabs at a fizzing 25 meter drive from Viera Ellong Doualla as the host looked to double its advantage.

In the 77thminute Balboa also had a chance to seal it but shot at the Gabon keeper’s legs when slid clean through.

With the Panthers committing men forward in the closing stages Equatorial Guinea was able to hit it on the break, with Ivan Edu Salvador sweeping home a rebound for 2-0 in the 87thminute.

The home nation will now be looking to improve on its quarterfinal finish in 2012 – the only other Africa Cup of Nations tournament for which it has qualified.

Congo claim top spot

Congo's players celebrate beating Burkina Faso in Ebebiyin
Congo's players celebrate beating Burkina Faso in EbebiyinImage: K.Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

At the same time in Bata, Congo overcame a late Burkina Faso rally to win 2-1 and cement its position at the top of Group A.

Needing a win to stand any chance of going through, Burkina Faso created little in another goalless first half.

The game came to life in the second period however when Bifouma Koulossa prodded home for Congo in the 52ndminute.

Aristide Bance then gave Burkina Faso a lifeline with only five minutes left on the clock when he steered in from an outswinging cross from the right.

But when goalkeeper Germain Sanou made a mess of a free kick, punching the ball on to the shoulder of Fabrice Ondama and into the net, Congo had the victory which put it into the last eight with two wins and a draw from its three group games.