Indomitable Lions knock out hosts Gabon

by
Kelvin Trudeau Musako
January 23, 2017

Cameroon survived a late onslaught to settle for a goalless draw and book a place in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Total Africa Cup of Nations at the expense of the host nation Gabon on Sunday 22 January 2017.

Hugo Broos’ men faced a partisan crowd at the Stade de l’Amitie knowing that a draw will be enough to qualify from Group A, regardless of the other result involving Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau.

As expected, it was the host nation that did most of the attack in the early stages, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang guilty of missing a open goal from a Denis Bouanga low cross on 3 minutes.

Cameroon keeper Fabrice Ondoa was called into action on 20 minutes to prevent Denis Bouanga’s curling free-kick from finding the net.

Jose Antonio Camacho’s Gabon went into the break still without a goal and the Panthers came into the second half pushing again for a goal.

Siani came close to scoring for Cameroon in the 51st minute, almost a similar goal he got in the 2-1 win over Guinea-Bissau but it was just wide of Didier Ovono’s right hand post.

Fabrice Ondoa again denied Bouanga from similar fashion saving a dipping free-kick on 61 minutes.

Gabon went on an onslaught in the closing stages of the game and were nearly rewarded with Bounga again striking the ball in sweet fashion only for it to bounce off the post in injury time.

Cameroon held on to join Burkina Faso into the last eight.

Group A standings.
Gabon and Guinea-Bissau are knocked out of #CAN2017. Cameroon and Burkina Faso qualify #AFCON2017 pic.twitter.com/LUY5TP6a7S

— Soka25east.com (@soka25east) January 22, 2017