GABON face Burkina Faso today as the knockout stage of AFCON gets underway!
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may have played no part, but Gabon progressed to the Last 16 with flying colours while Burkina Faso fought out of Group A to advance.
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Burkina Faso 0 Gabon 0
5. Oyono gets down the byline for Gabon and his cross is easily picked out by the Burkina Faso keeper.
Bit more composure there from Oyono and Gabon could have capitalised.
Burkina Faso 0 Gabon 0
4. A Gabon short corner is struck towards goal, deflecting off a defender for another corner.
The ball is swung in and dealt with easily by Burkina Faso.
Gabon starting strongly here.
Burkina Faso 0 Gabon 0
3. Both teams start to probe one another with long balls through the heart of their opponents defensive line.
It is like two boxers trading punches trying to find weakness in their opponent.
Burkina Faso 0 Gabon 0
1. Gabon get us underway here.
It’s time to find out who has the minerals.
Hand on heart time
The anthems sound as the players stand to attention.
A sunny early evening on the west coast of Cameroon.
Looks a tad warmer than Britain with a mild 31 degrees.
Fireworks time
Not long until kick off now.
For any football tournament, the knockout phase is the is where the drama happens.
No room for error, mistakes are punished.
Go for it
Often teams can have more of a fear of being eliminated than drive to go for the win from the first whistle.
Burkina Faso have shown us their attacking intent in the group stages.
Let’s hope Gabon have that attacking mindset, we could be blessed with an end-to-end game here today.
Tough nut to crack
Burkina Faso have only lost once in their last nine AFCON matches while Gabon are unbeaten in six.
A Burkina Faso victory would see them progress to their third AFCON quarter final in only four attempts.
Familiar face
One player Premier League followers will recognise is Burkina Faso’s captain, Bertrand Traore.
The Stallions skipper playing for Aston Villa also.
Can he lead his country to the quarter finals?
Make us proud
Interviews with players from both sides show just how much it means to them to do well and make their countries proud at AFCON.
Gabon have won the support of their fans back at this tournament according to coach Patrice Neveu.
Can the support of their fans motivate the side to overcome Burkina Faso?
Gabon subs:
Meye, Mayi, Ameka Autchanga, Eneme, Mfa Mezui, Bouanga, Noubi Fotso, Ndzengue, Sambissa, Assoumou-Akue, Biteghe, N’Gakoutou-Yapende
Gabon team:
Amonome, Palun, Manga, Obissa, Oyono, Moucketou-Moussounda, Poko, Obiang, Kanga, Allevinah, Boupendza
Burkina Faso subs:
Sawadogo, D Ouattara, Traore, S Ouattara, Malo, Simpore, Konate, A Tapsoba, Sanago, I Ouedraogo, S Ouedraogo, Botue
Burkina Faso team:
Koffi, Kabore, Dayo, Tapsoba, Yago, Guira, Blati Toure, Traore, Sangare, Ouattara, Bande
Unbeaten start
Despite losing key players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina to illness before a ball was even kicked, Gabon ended the group stage undefeated.
After beating Comoros, The Panthers drew with Ghana before an impressive 2-2 draw with Morocco, a game in which they led twice.
Big chance
While neither of these teams are fancied to win the tournament, qualification to the next round is a huge achievement for both.
The chance to include themselves as one of the ‘Big Eight’ of African football.
Burkina Faso beat Gabon in a friendly prior to AFCON 3-0.
The Stallions will be looking to repeat their 2013 feat of reaching the AFCON final.
Head to head
These two teams have met a total of 19 times.
Burkina Faso have won 4 times, Gabon winning 8 times and 7 draws.
In AFCON tournaments Gabon have won 3 times, with 2 draws and Burkina Faso yet to register a win against The Panthers.
Welcome back AFCON fans
Now we get to the business end of the tournament.
Knockout football.
90 minutes of football, form guides out of the window, whoever wants it most on the day, all there for the taking!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
