By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,

Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon

2013 finalists Burkina Faso got a rude awakening in their quest to repeat their last nations’ cup heroics when Gabon brushed them aside with a gritty 2-0 victory at the Estadio de Bata.Gabon will however have goalkeeper Didier Evono to thank,the custodian standing in the way of everything the Burkinabes threw at him.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang exhibited great composure to curl in his shot after his first attempt was blocked on nineteen minutes.Jonathan Pitroipa and Charles Kabore were at the centre of most Burkinabe attacks.Winger Ahmed Traore left his marker for dead early in the second half with some clever spadework but Ovono thwarted him.Bertrand Traore ghosted in behind the Ghana defence but again Ovono stood tall,blocking his goal-bound effort with an outstretched right foot.

Aubameyang’s pace on the other end had the Stallion defence backpedalling,the Dortmund forward running rugged at them.
Malik Evouna put the contest to bed with a sublime header,rising unattended to meet a pin-point cross from Frederic Wagha down the right channel.

Gabon go top of group A after Congo left it late to hold Equatorial Guinea in the tournament opener