AFCON: HOSTS EQUATORIAL GUINEA PROGRESS AFTER DEFEATING WASTEFUL GABON

The first half was a drab forty-five minutes, with both sides lacking guile in the final third. It was Gabon, though, who edged the action and came closest to taking the lead. They would come to regret their profligacy.

Frederic Bulot brought one good save when he was one-on-one with Felipe Ovono, and Ovono again did well to beat away a powerful header from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
In the second half, Balboa broke the deadlock after being tripped in the box by Palun, and confidently dispatched the spotkick above the 'keeper. Balboa almost made it two when put through on goal by Iban Edu, but his shot was blocked with an outstretched leg from Didier Ovono.
With just minutes remaining, Iban Edu followed up to put home the rebound from an Emilio Nsue shot blocked by Edu, and Equatorial Guinea qualified for the quarter finals in the runners-up spot.

KEY EVENTS
20' - AUBAMEYANG HEADER - Aubameyang thunders a header at goal, and Ovono shifts his weight swiftly to beat away the effort for a corner.
29' - OVONO SAVE - Ovono pushes away a shot from Bulot with a smart save after a one-two with Evouna.
53' - PENALTY! Balboa strides into the box, and Palun trips him as he chases him, and it's a penalty.
55' - GOAL! Gabon 0-1 Equatorial Guinea. Balboa scores - He fires in his penalty to the left, a couple of feet over the diving Ovono.
77' - OVONO SAVE - Balboa then gets through on goal after a great pass from Ivan Edu into the box, and Ovono stops it with his outstretched legs.
86' - GOAL! Gabon 0-2 Equatorial Guinea. Iban Edu scores - Nsue has a close-range shot blocked by Ovono, it comes out to Iban Edu, and he bounces an awkward volley into the goal.

TALKING POINT
Can Equatorial Guinea emulate Denmark? Denmark came through as late entrants to the European Championships to win the tournament, and there are vaguely similar circumstances for the hosts of this tournament. Having failed to originally qualify, they staged the tournament at late notice, and have now reached the quarter finals.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Iban Edu (Equatorial Guinea): The teenager looks like an exciting prospect. He has the pace and anticipation to pose a danger in the box and on the counter-attack, and he sealed the victory for his side today. They were much more threatening once he was introduced.

PLAYER RATINGS
Equatorial Guinea: Ovono 6, Randy 5, Da Gracia 5, Evuy 5, Sipo 5, Kike 6, Zarandona 6, Ellong 5, Nsue 6, Ivan 6, Balboa 7. Subs: Iban Edu 7, Edjogo 6, Obama 6.

Gabon: Ovono 6, Palun 6, Ondele 5, Ecuele Manga 6, Obiang 5, Madinda 6, Biyogho Poko 6, Kanga 6, Bulot 6, Evouna 6, Aubameyang 6. Subs: Ndong 6, Rogombe 6, Lengoulama 6.