By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,
Equatorial Guinea 2-0 Gabon
Hosts Equatorial Guinea overcame a nervy first half to send neighbours Gabon packing in a fast paced match at the Bata stadium.
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Frederic Bulot Wagha had the Equatorians on the back foot and forced excellent saves from Felipe Ovono.Lloyd Palon brought down Javier Balboa on fifty three minutes as he bore down on goal.The winger picked himself up to tuck away the penalty.Substitute Iban Edu put the tie to bed with a rebound shot with five minutes left on the clock.
Congo 2-1 Burkina Faso
Down in Ebibeyin,Congo qualified as group leaders with a gritty 2-1 win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso.Bifoumbi tapped them into an early lead and although Aristide Bance came off the bench to score for his side,the Burkinabes’ body language suggested they had already resigned to their fate.