Gabon vs. Burkina Faso: Clash at the Top of Group C – AFCON 2015 Qualifier
In what promises to be a high-stakes showdown, Gabon will host Burkina Faso on Saturday, October 11, at the Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville (6:30 p.m. local time), for a crucial Group C fixture in the AFCON 2015 qualifiers.
⚔️ Battle for Group Supremacy
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Burkina Faso enters the match as group leaders with 6 points from two wins — including a stunning 3–0 victory in Luanda against Angola.
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Gabon, 2 points behind, needs a win to:
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Leapfrog the Stallions into first place,
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Keep Angola (3rd in the group) at bay.
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The pressure is on coach Jorge Costa’s Panthers, who dropped points with a disappointing 1–1 draw against ten-man Lesotho last matchday.
🌟 Key Players to Watch
Gabon
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Dortmund): Eager to rediscover his scoring form at home, where he last netted in the 2012 AFCON.
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Malick Evouna (Wydad Casablanca) and Frédéric Bulot (Standard Liège) will support the attack.
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Bruno Ecuélé Manga (Cardiff) marshals a defense that must contain Burkina Faso’s attacking threats.
Burkina Faso
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Aristide Bancé, the “bulldozer,” and Jonathan Pitroipa, the “artist”, are full of confidence.
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Bertrand Traoré (Chelsea) brings creativity and youthful energy.
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Charles Kaboré (Kuban Krasnodar) anchors the midfield with leadership and experience.
Note: Key midfielder Alain Traoré is out with an ankle injury, a big blow for Burkina Faso’s attacking depth.
🧠 Tactics and Expectations
Gabon will look to control possession and exploit the speed of Aubameyang on the break, while Burkina Faso, under Paul Put, are expected to play with confidence and structure, based on their flawless start to the campaign.
Gabon’s last home performances have been mixed, and they’ll need a much sharper display than they showed in Maseru. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso arrives in Libreville with momentum and intent to put one foot in Morocco.
📋 Confirmed Squads
🇬🇦 Gabon – The Panthers
Coach: Jorge Costa
Notables: Aubameyang, Ecuélé Manga, Madinda, Poko, Bulot, Evouna
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso – The Stallions
Coach: Paul Put
Notables: Bance, Pitroipa, Bertrand Traoré, Kaboré, Koffi, Yago
🏟️ Venue
Stade de l’Amitié (Libreville) – A symbolic stadium for Gabonese football and Aubameyang’s personal goal-scoring history.
🔮 What’s at Stake?
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Victory for Burkina Faso would put them 5 points clear at the top and virtually secure a spot at AFCON 2015.
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Victory for Gabon would turn the group into a tight three-way race with Angola possibly back in contention.
⚽ This match has all the ingredients of an African football classic — intensity, rivalry, and stars with everything to prove.
