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Gabon Pick Up Second Draw While Cameroon Lead Group A

Gabon Pick Up Second Draw While Cameroon Lead Group A

Following the second round of matches in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations for Group A, Cameroon lead the standings after a 2-1 win over Guinea Bissau while hosts Gabon earned a second successive 1-1 draw, this time against Burkina Faso.

Gabon and Burkina Faso settled for a 1-1 draw at the Stade de I’Amitie in Libreville on Wednesday evening.

Burkina Faso star midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa was injured early on, and was replaced by Prejuce Nakoulma who opened the scoring for the Stallions on 13 minutes when he dribbled past two defenders before beating Gabon goalkeeper Didier Ovono.

Later in the first half Burkina Faso keeper Herve Koffi tried to intercept a through ball in a dangerous position, fouling Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and conceding a penalty as a result.

The Gabon captain converted the spot-kick in the 38th minute, equalising for the hosts.

The Gabonese pushed forward in the hopes of securing three points from the encounter, but Burkina Faso stood tall in defence, with Koffi producing a stunning late save to deny midfielder Denis Bouanga with an outstretched leg in the 81st minute.

Cameroon secure the three points

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon did not disappoint in their encounter against tournament rookies Guinea Bissau, winning 2-1 and taking the three points necessary for them to top Group A.

The former World Cup quarter-finalists came from behind to beat the minnows at the Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville on Wednesday night.

Piqueti gave Djurtus a surprise lead on 13 minutes, but Hugo Broos’ team managed a solid comeback thanks to second half goals from Sébastien Siani and Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui, allowing the Lions to secure a 2-1 victory that put them top on four points, two ahead of Burkina Faso and hosts Gabon.

Cameroon now have a final group match against Gabon to contend with, while Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso meet in the other Group A encounter.