BERLIN: Hosts Gabon were bounced from the 2017 African Cup of Nations on Sunday as four-time champions Cameroon went through to the quarterfinals instead after a 0-0 draw while Burkina Faso took Group A honours with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau. Gabon were hoping to return to the knockout stage for the first time since 2012 but could not find the back of the net in a scoreless draw with Cameroon in the capital Libreville.
It is the first time since 1994 that the host team failed to reach the Afcon knockout stage when Tunisia went out after group action.
“I feel very sorry for the public. This is also football. But we failed to qualify because we lost two points against Guinea-Bissau (in the opening 1-1 draw),” Gabon coach Jose Antonio Camacho said. Cameroon seek their first Afcon title since 2002 but will face a tough challenge in the final eight against Senegal.
“Now we are qualified and we are very happy,” Cameroon coach Hugo Broos said.
“Senegal is probably the best team right now but those are only words. If we play with a big heart than we can have a better beginning and end of the game and there could be something great for us in the quarterfinals.”
Burkina Faso got an own goal from Guinea-Bissau’s Rudinilson in the12th minute before Bertrand Traore made it 2-0 after 58 minutes in Franceville.
Burkina Faso won the group with five points while Cameroon also had five points to take the second spot with a weaker goal differential. Gabon finish with three points and Guinea-Bissau are last with one point.
The hosts came out aggressive right away on offence but failed to score after four minutes. Denis Bouanga fed a great diagonal pass to the far post to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the Borussia Dortmund striker re-directed the shot wide from just a yard out.
Cameroon nearly grabbed the lead themselves on 14 minutes with Adolphe Teikeu’s header going just a hair wide of the far right post.
Gabon threatened again on 21 minutes with Bouanga sending a fantastic lofting free kick from 40 yards out near the left sideline that went longer and longer and forced Cameroon keeper Fabrice Ondoa into leaping high and making an impressive save, tipping the ball over the bar.
The Lions had their best chance five minutes after the re-start with Ambroise Oyongo sending a low free kick towards the bottom corner but Gabon keeper Didier Ovono tipped the ball onto the outside of the post.
Gabon lacked the effort most of the second half until one final push four minutes into stoppage time.
Bouanga’s blast hit the right post though and the rebound went to Didier N’Dong but his attempt was saved fantastically by Ondoa to preserve the draw and send the hosts out of the tournament.
In Franceville, Burkina Faso was close to moving ahead in the eighth minute with Traore dribbling down the right side before sending his left footed shot just wide of the far post.
The Stallions did take the lead on 12 minutes on an own goal by Guinea-Bissau defender Rudinilson, who tried to head it back to his keeper but Jonas Mendes wasn’t there and Tomas Dabo was not quick enough getting back and trying to clear before the ball crossed the line. — DPA
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