AFCON 2015: Oniangué Strike Lifts Congo, Aubameyang Eyes Redemption
BBC Sport – Africa
21 January 2015
Prince Oniangué was the hero for Congo as his second-half goal sealed a vital 1-0 win over Gabon, taking the Red Devils top of Group A and within touching distance of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
In a tight encounter in Bata, the Stade de Reims midfielder reacted quickest to a defensive mix-up, slotting home what proved to be the only goal of the match. The win gives Claude Le Roy’s men four points from two games and a significant advantage heading into the final round of group matches.
Meanwhile, Gabon failed to build on their opening win over Burkina Faso. Star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admitted his side fell short of expectations:
“We lacked energy. We didn’t know how to exploit our pace. We let ourselves be led into a trap. They played their game well. We must not lose against Equatorial Guinea.”
That final match against the host nation now becomes a do-or-die clash for both teams. With the crowd behind them, Equatorial Guinea will be eager to take the fight to the Panthers after earning a second draw earlier in the day — a 0-0 result against Burkina Faso.
For the Stallions, the goalless draw represents a setback after their opening defeat to Gabon. Despite dominating large stretches of play and hitting the post, Paul Put’s side failed to convert chances and now face an uphill task to qualify.
Group A standings after Matchday 2:
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Congo – 4 pts
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Gabon – 3 pts
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Equatorial Guinea – 2 pts
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Burkina Faso – 1 pt
The final matches in Group A — Congo vs Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea vs Gabon — will be played on 25 January.
Qualification is still mathematically possible for all four teams, promising a thrilling finale to one of the tightest groups in the tournament.
