AFCON host nation Gabon have bitterly disappointed their fans at the ongoing 2017 edition of the competition after failing to progress from the group stages of the tournament.
Gabon drew 0-0 with Cameroon in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations action at the Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville on Sunday night, which meant that Cameroon finished behind Burkina Faso in second place in the Group A standings.
Gabon meanwhile, exit the competition as the third-placed team in the group, following a series of three disappointing draws.
The Panthers should have taken the lead early on when 2015 African Player of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had an open goal at his disposal following Denis Bouanga’s attempted shot.
Aubameyang would normally bury the chance at the back post, but strangely the Gabon captain miscued his kick wide of Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa’s net.
That would prove to be Gabon’s best chance, aside from a last minute shot from distance which Denis Bouanga crashed against the woodwork to frustrate the home crowd.
The failure to move on to the knockout stages makes Gabon the first host nation to be knocked out of the competition in the first round since 1994 in Tunisia.
The Stallions of Burkina Faso managed to progress as Group A winners, following their 2-0 victory over last placed Guinea Bissau at the Stade de Franceville on Sunday.
Rudinilson’s own goal in the first half gave Burkina Faso the lead, with a strike from Bertrand Traore making sure of the result in the second half.
Star player Jonathan Pitroipa was not available for the encounter due to injury, but his absence was not felt as his teammates managed to secure a decisive victory over the AFCON rookies.
Traore’s 57th minute goal settled matters in the Stallions’ favour at a time when Guinea Bissau has begun to trouble their more illustrious opponents, but experience paid off for the Burkinabe, and with three points secured, they progressed along with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
