Burkina Faso held by host in Bata.
Equatorial Guinea pick up one point with a good performance against 2013 AFCON finalists.
Burkina Faso were looking to bounce back from the defeat in their opener against Gabon. Equatorial Guinea had just a point from their opening game and there was all to play for in this tie.
Equatorial Guinea 0:0 Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso were wasteful in front of goal and struck the post twice before the break through Alain Traore. Nsue was almost through when Bakary Kone made a perfectly timed challenge to stop the striker in the opening minutes of the game. On the 18th minute Alain Traore struck the post with his free kick leaving Felipe Ovono scrambled behind a thick wall.
Jonathan Pritroipa was through on goal when Diosdado Mbele brought him down cynically. He was lucky not to have seen red, he was yellow carded and will miss the hosts final game in the group stages.
Ovono was called upon to make another save from Aristide Bance on target free kick. Alain Traore almost put the Burkinabe into the lead after his shot his volley struck Ovono’s leg and the inside of the upright before going clear.
We saw an even second half of the game with hosts strikers Emilio Nsue and Iban Edu putting in good performances.
There where chances for both teams as the game opened up in the second half. Kike blew another chance, smashing his chance over the bar after Edu and Nsue combined well to find the opening. Bance lofted in a ball for Pritroipa who missed the glorious chance, soon after it was Alain Traore who volleyed a chance over the bar. Djakaridja Kone made a costly mistake at the back but Ellong failed to capitalise and shot way over from just about 15 yards. The host gained some confidence about themselves from there on.
Burkina Faso were all over the place and failed to deal with a corner, Nsue almost turned it in from close range. Burkina Faso star man Jonathan Pitroipa had a chance to go for glory, driving his effort over from inside the box. The next chance fell to Alain Traore again who side-footed the ball wide but to be fair he was under some sort of pressure. The host almost went into the lead through Kike and Viera Ellong but the Burkinabe defended well to prevent the late scare.
Burkina Faso will be disappointed after missing numerous opportunities, for the host it was a well played game.
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