Panthers in Afcon trouble after draw

The Panthers battered Burkina Faso towards the end of this encounter at the Stade De L’Amite in Libreville on Wednesday, but a brilliant save from Stallions goalkeeper Kouakou Koffi at the death from Denis Bouanga ensure that this finished in the third successive 1-1 draw in a tight group.

Both these sides have two points from two matches but it is Burkina Faso who have the easier-looking final game, against Guinea-Bissau, who took on Cameroon later on Wednesday.

The crowd was poor again at kick off, with supporters trickling in from outside as the game wore on. Unlike the opening match, however, the stadium never got close to capacity.

It seemed opposition leaders’ calls for people not to attend the match, in protest at President Ali Bongo’s excessive spending on the tournament, were heeded.

Still, the Gabonese side started well and had a chance in the opening minute, as a slip from Bukinabe defender Bakary Kone let in Evouna Malick, who crossed for Andre Poko, but the Stallions defence held firm.

Bouanga was in sparkling form for the Panthers, and he played neat one two with Malick, but his first touch allowed r Koffi to come out and gather.

In the 7th minute, Bouanga was desperately unlucky as his fierce shot from the edge of clattered back of the Burkinabe crossbar and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang couldn’t get enough strength on the header from the rebound to guide it home.

Burkina Faso were yet to get going at all and were dealt an apparent blow in the 11th minute as experienced attacker Jonathan Pitroipa was forced off with an injury. But his replacement, Niguimbe Nakoulma scored within 12 minutes of coming on.

The Gabonese defence failed to deal with an awkward bouncing ball and Nakoulma held them off before steering a cool finish past Didier Ovono.

Gabon had an injury problem of their own in the 35th minute, as left back Johann Obiang was forced off the field, Benjamin Ondo coming on in his place.

But Camacho’s side got a way back into the game a couple of minutes later, thanks to their talisman Aubameyang. A sloppy Burkinabe pass gifted possession to Koumba Abdoulaye and his through ball was perfectly weighted, with the sliding Issoufou Dayo missing the ball. Aubameyang pounced, and was brought down by Koffi, dusting himself down to fire in the penalty.

Burkina Faso were hit by another injury 10 minutes into the second half, Jonathan Zongo forced off and replaced by Bertrand Traore, who had been relegated to the bench after starting against Cameroon.

Traore almost had an immediate impact, as he ghosted into the penalty area in the 59th minute, but his shot was too close to Ovono and easily pushed away.

Ovono was called into action again a minute later, getting an unconvincing touch on a deflected long-range free kick from Banou Diawara.

Gabon suffered yet another casualty in the 66th minute, as Kouma went down with an injury, Serge Ngouali his replacement.

Aubameyang had a decent chance to put Gabon in front in the 78th minute, after Bertrand Traore conceded possession in his own half. But he put his effort from the edge of the box over the bar.

Three minutes later, Abuameyang rose highest at the back post to head the ball down for Bouanga, who really should have scored, but his effort was somehow kept out by a brilliant save from Koffi.

Two minutes before time, Bouanga squeezed in a brilliant cross from an impossible angle, but substitute Serge Aboue headed wide.

The game ended with boos from the home crowd, and Gabon have it all to do to impress increasingly frustrated fans.