Equaliser a surprise from debutant Guinea-Bissau
Burkina Faso bounces back to share spoils with Cameroon
JUARY Soares grabbed a dramatic late equaliser for debutants GuineaBissau as they recovered from a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike to hold hosts Gabon to a 1-1 draw in the Africa Cup of Nations opening game.
Gabon appeared to be heading for victory in Saturday’s Group A curtainafter Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang turned the ball in from close range seven minutes into the second half at the Stade de l’Amitie in the capital Libreville.
However, Soares headed home in the 90th minute to earn GuineaBissau a memorable point in their first ever match at the continental finals.
“This is a moment of joy for us. Despite our country’s difficulties we managed to qualify,” said GuineaBissau coach Baciro Cande.
“We knew Gabon have an excellent team and the best player in Africa and in Europe.
“We have our limits but we had ambitions coming here and we will BURKINA Faso scored a late equaliser through centre back Issoufou Dayo to earn a fortuitous 11 draw with Cameroon in Group A at the Africa Nations Cup on Saturday.
Dayo touched home a header from close range in a goalmouth scramble from a free kick in the 75th minute to ensure a share of try to go as far as possible.”
There were boos at the final whistle from the home fans at the 40 000seat stadium, where a close to capacity crowd included Gabonese president Ali Bongo and Issa Hayatou, the veteran head of the Confederation of African Football.
It was a far from convincing performance from Gabon, who will now look to bounce back from this disappointment when they play Burkina Faso in their next game on Wednesday, when Guinea-Bissau, known as the ‘wild dogs’, take on Cameroon.
“Our chances of qualifying are the same as if we had won,” insisted Gabon’s Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho.
“We knew this was going to be a difficult match. We studied GuineaBissau. They didn’t surprise me.”
The tournament debutants, whose lineup mainly consisted of players based at modest clubs in Portugal, were expected to struggle against a Gabon side spearheaded by the spoils after Cameroon had led at halftime.
Captain Benjamin Moukandjo converted a free-kick in the 35th minute and Cameroon squandered two more gilt-edged chances.
Moukandjo’s free-kick came after Burkina Faso captain Charles Kabore had committed a needless challenge on the edge of his box. Aubameyang and also featuring the likes of Sunderland’s Didier Ndong and Mario Lemina of Juventus.
The hosts created next to nothing in the first half, though, with the exception of a Lemina header that flashed just wide.
They were much more lively at the beginning of the second half and talented winger Denis Bouanga cut in from the left four minutes after the restart before sending in a shot with his right foot that was tipped over by goalkeeper Jonas Mendes.
The opener arrived shortly after. The Guinea-Bissau defence failed to clear their lines and Bouanga’s low ball to the back post was converted by Aubameyang, to the delight of the home fans.
However, Gabon began to sit back and Guinea-Bissau had opportunities to equalise towards the end.
They looked to have blown their chance but they drew level in the final minute, Soares getting in front of Bruno Ecuele Manga to head home Zezinho’s free-kick. — AFP The Lorient striker stepped up and with virtually no run-up, steered a superb effort high into the net.
Cameroon had a second chance with a breakaway on the stroke of halftime after Christian Bassogog beat the offside trap and found himself running clear on goal but Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi made a superb tackle to deny Cameroon a two-goal advantage.
After the break, Jacques Zoua’s thunderous strike was parried by Koffi straight into the path of Clinton Njie, who scuffed the rebound wide of the target.
That opened the door for a Burkinabe revival which saw Banou Diawara’s free-kick set up the equaliser.
Cameroon failed to clear a hardhit kick that bounced around dangerously before Bakary Kone steered it goalward and Dayo came through to apply the finishing touch and claim a first international goal.
The four Group A sides will play next again in Libreville on Wednesday. — Reuters