BY ISLAM SABULINO.
(News of The South) – Borussia Dortmund forward Aubameyang’s goal and Malick Evouna’s second were enough to get Gabon to a flying start at the Africa Cup of Nations as they edged the Group A favourites Burkina Faso 2-0 on Saturday night.
Aubameyang netted against the run of play to give Gabon a 1-0 first-half lead before Evouna scored the second with 18 minutes to spare.
Burkina Faso, the Group A favourites, finished as runners-up to Nigeria in 2013 edition, but they were stunned by a team they failed to beat in the qualifying round following a defeat and a draw in their two outings.
The win for Gabon saw them topping the group after the host Equatorial Guinea failed to utilise home advantage in a 1-1 all draw against Le Roy’s Congo.
Initially, Aubameyang was sent through one-on-one by a brilliant pass from Andre Poko and he was first denied by the goalkeeper, the Dortmund superster had the second bite of the cherry and converted from a rebound to give his team a 1-0 lead.
The Burkinese could have equalised in the 30th minute following a two quick passes almost ended in the leveller had it not been of Jonathan Pitroipa’s poor finish which ended up in the hands of the keeper.
In the second half both keepers were busiest of all the players on the pitch but there was little that Sanou could have done when Gabon added their second in the 72nd minute.
In stoppage time, Pitroipa triee to produce a moment of magic buy his shot was blocked.
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