Burkina Faso progressed to the quarter finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after edging out Gabon 7-6 in a dramatic post-match penalty shoot-out at the Stade Omnisport in Limbe on Sunday night.
The match had to go into extra time and penalties after a 1-1 stalemate following a stoppage time Gabon equalizer, but the Panthers could not ride the luck to earn a second round ticket after playing most of the game with 10 men.
Adama Guisa’s own goal from a corner in the 92nd minute of the game forced the game into extra time, Gabon reaping the fruits of their belief after playing with 10 men from the 67th minute after Sidney Obissa had been sent off for a second yellow card.
Obissa had been first yellow carded in the 18th minute for a foul on Issa Kabore that led to a Burkina Faso penalty that Bertrand Traore struck against the crossbar. His second yellow was for shirt pulling.
Traore had made amends for his penalty miss with a sweetly struck 28th minute goal. The Burkinabe had chances to extend the lead but were thwarted by brilliant goalkeeping from Jean Noel Amonome.
On penalties, the kicks had to go all the way to sudden death with Lloyd Palun striking Gabon’s ninth kick against the crossbar whle Ismaila Ouedraogo scored the winner for the Burkinabes.
Gabon players celebrate their late equalizer against Burkina Faso
Dennis Bouanga, Axel Ndong and Aaroin Boupendza had scored the first three for Gabon with Kabore, Soumaila Ouattara and Edmond Tapsoba respinding for Burkina Faso.
Gabon’s Guelor Kanga saw his penalty saved by Kouakou Koffi, but his teammate Saidou Simpore could not take advantage as he skied his penalty.
Andre Poko scored Gabon’s fifth while Steeve Yago powered Burkina’s fifth, the game heading to sudden death with a 4-4 tie in the first five.
Skipper Bruno Manga and Luis Autchanga scored Gabon’s first two while Guira and Mohamed Konate responded for the Burkinabes.
There was another set of drama when Yannis Ngakoutou-Yapende struck his penalty against the crossbar. While Burkina Faso had a chance to respond and win the game, Abdoul Tapsoba saw his penalty saved by Amonome to hand Gabon back the lifeline.
But, Palun struck the crossbar while the Stallions finally took advantage of a Gabon slip when Ouedraogo expertly tucked away his kick to hand Burkina Faso the victory.
In regulation time, Burkina won a penalty in the 13th minute of the game after Obissa had been adjudged to have fouled Kabore who had powered into the box from the right. After a long stoppage of arguind and confirmation from the VAR, the penalty was taken but Traore struck the woodwork.
He however made amends in the 28th minute when he raced on to a Dango Ouattara through ball before side footing it beyond the keeper.
Bertrand Traore scores for Burkina Faso
Gabon thought they had drawn level with four minutes left to the break, but Boupendza’s well struck goal was chalked off after he had been flagged down for offside.
In the second half, Burkina Faso started with pace and had an advantage when Obissa was sent off for a second yellow card by the card-happy Moroccan referee Redouane Jiyed. This was the ninth card of 14, the referee issued the entire game.
From then on, Burkina Faso pushed in with pace to try make the most of their numerical advantage. But, they were thwarted by a hawkeyed Amonome who made good saves to deny Traore and twice Zakaria Sanogo from inside the box.
Gabon pushed on in the final minutes of the game and had a rasping long range effort from Bouanga collected by the keeper. They however got a huge reprieve in the second minute of added time when Guira headed the ball into his own net from a corner, under pressure from skipper Manga.
In added time, tired legs and a Gabonese side keen to avoid conceding saw not much of action in goalscoring chances, to push the game to penalties.
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