Burkina Faso vs Gabon – AFCON round of 16: Live score and updates

01/24/2022

Burkina Faso vs Gabon LIVE: Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traore MISSES early penalty as Central African sides meet as they attempt to reach the AFCON quarter-finals in the round of 16

Burkina Faso take on Gabon as the knockout stages of AFCON get underway
The latest Africa Cup of Nations news, including live action, fixtures and results
Follow the link to view the AFCON group stage tables – how all six finished

The knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations get underway on Saturday as Burkina Faso face fellow Central African side Gabon in Limbe.

Kamou Malo’s Burkina Faso had a mixed group stage, losing to hosts Cameroon before beating Cape Verde and drawing with Ethiopia to send them through.

Gabon, meanwhile, went unbeaten through the group stages despite the absence of key midfielder Mario Lemina and their captain, Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through injury.

Follow Sportsmail‘s MAX MATHEWS for live AFCON coverage of Burkina Faso vs Gabon, including build-up, team news and updates.

Host commentator

Dear oh dear. Should always be scoring from a pen. Is that an old-fashioned view?

Oof, not far away. The ball pings around the penalty area after a Gabon corner – Boupendza smashes it towards goal from close range but it’s blocked by the face of a defender.

Not handball, as Gabon are claiming.

Gabon’s Boupendza was booked after the penalty, maybe for some backchat, not sure.

Then Burkina Faso’s Blati Toure also gets booked for a clumsy challenge. Ref is struggling to keep control here.

I don’t believe it! Bertrand Traore misses it!

The Aston Villa winger SMASHES it off the crossbar and it deflects away.

What a chance. What a waste.

Penalty Burkina Faso! Gabon aren’t happy…

Right-back Issa Kabore powers through a couple of challenges and sprints into the box. Sidney Obissa, chasing him, accidentally trods on his leg.

It’s accidental but it is a penalty, no question. Obissa is booked.

Gabon playing left to right in canary/custard yellow shirts and blue shorts, Burkina Faso in some snazzy white shirts with a red/green sash down the middle and white shorts.

Gabon’s Jim Allevinah – whose first name makes him sound like a 67-year-old taxi driver from Essex – gets booked for leaving a foot in.

THEN moments later Adama Guira fouls Poko and also gets booked. Nice and consistent.

Not much happening in the first five.

We’re up and running in Limbe!

TEAM NEWS: Reminder

Not long left! All the action coming up shortly…

Gabon (3-4-1-2): Amonome; Palun, Ecuele Manga, Obissa; Oyono, Moucketou-Moussounda, Biyogo Poko, Obiang; Kanga; Allevinah, Boupendza.

Subs: Meye, Mayi, Ameka, Eneme-Ella, Mfa Mezui, Bouanga, Noubi Fotso, Ndzengue, Sambissa, Assoumou, Biteghe, N’Gakoutou-Yapende.

In case you’re wondering, there’s sadly not a Gabon flag logo for me to use. I’ll get on to my bosses.

Burkina Faso (4-2-3-1): Koffi; Kabore, Dayo, E Tapsoba, Yago; Guira, Toure; B Traore, Sangare, Outtara; Bande.

Subs: Sawadogo, D Outtara, O Traore, S Outtara, Malo, Simpore, Konate, A Tapsoba, Sanogo, I Ouedraogo, F Ouedraogo, Botue.

Line-ups coming your way imminently!

Burkina Faso, you feel, are likely to be favourites. Their group-stage form was not as good as Gabon, but they boast some really classy players.

Koffi in goal, Tapsoba in defence, Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traore out wide and Bande up top.

Today the AFCON knockout stages get underway with Burkina Faso against Gabon.

Round of 16, Limbe, two sides in good form. Who’s ready then?

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