2015 African Cup of Nations
Group A
Full Time: Gabon 0-1 Congo
Date: 21 January 2015
Venue: Bata Stadium
A single goal from Prince Oniangue handed Congo their first win in the 2015 CAF African Cup of Nations when they beat Gabon 1-0 in a Group A match at the Bata Stadium on Wednesday night.
Gabon was the better side in the opening half as they controlled the possession stakes and dictated the flow of the game.
Still, they struggled at times to break down a stubborn Congo defence and chances on goal were not as frequent as one would like.
Gabon's first shot on goal was a Thunderous 24-yard volley from Frederic Wagha Bulot in the fourth minute, but Christoffer Mafoumbi produced a great fingertip save to deny him.
Congo had very few chances on goal, but their best effort of the half came in the 18th minute when Arnold Bouka Moutou met a right wing cross at the back post, but his 14-yard volley struck the side netting.
A minute later Malick Evouna should have given Gabon the lead when he broke through on goal, but superbly denied in a one-on-one with the keeper.
Three minutes before the break some great individual skill by Levy Clement Madinda saw him beat two defenders on his way into the Congo box on the left, but he dragged his low shot across the face of goal from 14-yards out.
The half ended 0-0.
We only had to wait three minutes after the restart to see the game's opening goal and it came somewhat against the run of play as Congo took the lead when Prince Oniangue touched the ball over the Gabon line following a goalmouth scramble at a corner-kick, 1-0.
In the 54th minute Prince Oniangue was in the thick of the action again with a swerving 30-yard volley, but the Gabon keeper did well to palm the effort away from danger.
Ten minutes later Gabon nearly levelled matters when Aaron Appindangoye met a left-wing cross from Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, but his 12-yard header went inches wide of the target.
In the 68th minute Frederic Wagha Bulot should have equalised for Gabon when he found himself in space 16-yards out, but with the goal at his mercy he shot wide.
In the 80th minute Levy Clement Madinda drove into the box, but again his shooting lacked direction as he struck the side-netting with a 14-yard shot.
Gabon could not find the winner as they suffered their first loss of Afcon 2015. Congo top Group A standings with four points, followed by Gabon on three and then Equatorial Guinea on two points.
Burkina Faso prop up the bottom of Group A with one point to their name.
