Group A
Gabon 0-0 Cameroon
Guinea-Bissau 0-2 Burkina Faso

The analysis
In front of an expectant crowd at the Stade de l’Amitie, Gabon needed a victory to ensure their passage to the knockout stages after drawing their first two matches in the group. In what proved to be a disappointing contest, the Panthers squandered two major chances to win the game. Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will have sleepless nights after failing to tap home Denis Bouanga’s low cross just three minutes in. That was followed by a huge injury-time opportunity for the hosts, as Bouanga hit the post before Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa made a brilliant save on the rebound to deny Didier N'Dong. Only needing a draw to advance, the Indomitable Lions created several chances to win the match themselves, but had to settle for a point and second place in Group A.

At the same time in Franceville, Burkina Faso took care of business by defeating Guinea-Bissau. The Stallions opened the scoring on 11 minutes through a Rudinilson own goal after a defensive mix-up in the Os Djurtus defence. Though Guinea-Bissau tried to clear the ball off their own goalline, Prejuce Nakoulma thumped the rebound home to ensure Burkina Faso had their match winner. Shortly after half-time, a fine run and finish by Bertrand Traore doubled Burkina Faso’s lead and secured them top spot in Group A. Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, head home from their first-ever appearance at a major tournament with a draw and two defeats.

Highlight of the day
Deep into second-half injury time in Libreville, Gabon’s hopes of scoring a dramatic late winner were dashed in an incredible sequence of events. Bouanga’s initial shot struck the woodwork before some remarkable goalkeeping from Cameroon’s Ondoa denied N'Dong at point-blank range to earn the Indomitable Lions a decisive draw.

The stat
23 – Before Gabon’s exit from their own tournament on Sunday, the last time a host nation was eliminated from an Africa Cup of Nations at the group stage was 23 years ago when Tunisia missed out in 1994. 

FIFA