IT’S GAME OVER FOR GABON STAR LEMINA
LIBREVILLE – Hosts Gabon have suffered another setback at the Africa Cup of Nations after key midfielder Mario Lemina was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a back injury.
The Juventus midfielder had gone off injured in the opening game for Gabon at the weekend when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Guinea-Bissau and missed Wednesday’s draw with Burkina Faso that left them on the brink of elimination. Lemina has “fatigue injury”, officials said, and would be out for the next fortnight.
Coach Jose Antonio Camacho said after Wednesday’s game: “It’s finished for him”.
Cameroon, meanwhile, closed in on the quarterfinals by beating Guinea-Bissau 2-1 on Wednesday while hosts Gabon were left still waiting for a win despite another goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Indomitable Lions came from behind to defeat GuineaBissau with Sebastien Siani and Michael Ngadeu netting after Piqueti’s contender for goal of the tournament had given the debutants the lead.
Cameroon now know a draw against Gabon in their final Group A game on Sunday will secure them a place in the last eight after a build-up to the finals marred by the refusal of several marquee names to accept call-ups.
Aubameyang’s penalty allowed Gabon to come from behind and draw 1-1 with Burkina Faso after Prejuce Nakoulma had put the Stallions in front at the Stade de l’Amitie. It was their second 1-1 draw in as many matches.
Ngadeu, the Slavia Prague defender, then fired in a low shot at the near post to win it, although Belgian coach Broos was still not too happy at the end.
“Our first-half performance was not worthy of Indomitable Lions lions. I have never seen such a weak team. There was nothing, no aggression, no fight.
“But I think we deserved to win the game on the basis of our second half.” AFP