Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted for the second time in as many games but Africa Cup of Nations hosts Gabon were again held to a 1-1 draw by Burkina Faso in Libreville on Wednesday.
Prejuce Nakoulma silenced the Stade de l’Amitie as he gave Burkina Faso an early lead but Aubameyang soon levelled from the penalty spot after he had been fouled inside the area.
Gabon had chances to win the game late on but this was the third 1-1 draw in as many matches in Group A, with Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau meeting at the same venue later on Wednesday.
Regardless of what happens in that match, qualification for the quarterfinals will now be decided in the last round of group games on Sunday.
Gabon had been dealt a blow ahead of the match with the loss of Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina to an injury that could rule him out of the rest of the tournament even if the Panthers were to go all the way.
Burkina Faso lost one of their key men, Jonathan Pitroipa, to injury early on but it was his replacement Nakoulma who grabbed the opening goal midway through the first half.
The Kayserispor player latched onto a long punt downfield and held off both Johann Obiang and Merlin Tandjigora as he charged into the box before poking the ball past Didier Ovono in goal.
Obiang then went off hurt for Gabon but Jose Antonio Camacho’s side were back on level terms seven minutes before the interval.
Goalkeeper Herve Koffi came charging off his line and took out Aubameyang. The Borussia Dortmund star appeared to have pushed the ball too far in front of him but the Gambian referee had no choice but to point to the spot.
Aubameyang coolly converted the penalty for his second goal of the tournament after his effort against Guinea-Bissau at the weekend.
The match was drifting toward the draw in the second half before Gabon rallied toward the end.
However, when Denis Bouanga met Aubameyang’s knockdown with a first-time effort eight yards from goal, Koffi made a superb block with his foot to divert the ball behind.
Substitute Serge Angoue then headed wide from Bouanga’s cross as the game ended level.
Egypt held on return by Mali
Essam El Hadary became the oldest player ever to appear at the Africa Cup of Nations as Egypt drew 0-0 with Mali on their return to the tournament late Tuesday night.
The 44-year-old goalkeeper came off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Ahmed El Shennawy and beat the old mark set by compatriot Hossam Hassan, who was 39 when he played at the 2006 Cup of Nations.
Otherwise, the Pharaohs’ return to Africa’s biggest stage after a seven-year absence proved to be something of an anti-climax with neither side creating many chances on a terrible playing surface in Port-Gentil.
The result means Ghana are in control of Group D following their 1-0 win against Uganda earlier in the day at the same venue. Ghana meet Mali next on Saturday while Egypt face Uganda later the same day.
“It was a very difficult game. In the second half we played better but our players were very tired toward the end,” said Egypt’s Argentine coach Hector Cuper.
“We would be much happier of course if we had won but this will not really change too much what we need to do in our coming games.”
Egypt had not been seen at a Cup of Nations since winning a record seventh title, and third in a row, in 2010.
This was always going to be a big test for them against a Malian side who may as well have been playing at home.
The large Malian community in Port-Gentil — an oil-rich seaport perched on Gabon’s western tip — turned out to give their side colorful and vociferous backing and made up most of the crowd of 12,600.
Mali might have won an early penalty when Moussa Marega was bundled over by Ali Gabr in the box but South African referee Daniel Bennett waved play on.
El Shennawy then touched a Lassana Coulibaly header around the post before having to be replaced in the 25th minute by El Hadary, who celebrated his 44th birthday on Sunday.
The veteran did not have much to do and it was Egypt who had the best opportunities from then on, Tarek Hamed setting up Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny for a first-time effort that went narrowly over.
Some Malian fans performed their evening prayer in the stadium concourse at half time before returning to witness a stodgy second period.
Egypt could have opened the scoring on the counterattack in the 54th minute, pouncing on a fresh-air swipe by Sambou Yatabare at the other end of the field.
Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim’s cross from the left was met by a flying header from Marwan Mohsen, but Mali’s goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko produced a superb reaction stop to turn the ball over.
Today’s matches:
Algeria vs. Tunisia (7:00 p.m. KSA)
Senegal vs. Zimbabwe (10:00 p.m. KSA)

Source: Arab News