Host Gabon failed in their bid to pull the first win Wednesday and settled for another draw against Stallions of Burkinaffaso in Libreville.
Gabon and Burkina Faso remain first and second respectively on the Group A log with two points each following their draw at the Stade de I’Amitie.
The deadlock was broken by Prejuce Nakoulma, who had replaced injured Jonathan Pitroipa, just 10 minutes into the encounter.
Nakoulma dribbled past two opponents before making it 1-0 to Burkina Faso with a brilliant finish silencing the Gabonese fans in the process.
However, Gabon were awarded a penalty after the half-hour mark make after Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi fouled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the box.
The striker then duly stepped up and fired past Koffi to make it 1-1 seven minutes before half-time much to the delight of the Gabonese fans inside the Stadium.
Second-half substitute Bertrand Traore nearly made it 2-1 to Burkina Faso in the 58th minute, but Gabon keeper Didier Ovono made a great save to deny him.
Tournament hosts Gabon also had a chance to snatch the winning goal through France-based attacker Denis Bouanga with nine minutes left on the clock.
Koffi, though, was well positioned to pull off a brilliant save to deny the Gabonese attacker and ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Tag: Aubameyang
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Aubameyang’s strike fails to earn Gabon victory
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Aubameyang promises better outing
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and hosts Gabon vowed to put a poor start to their Africa Cup of Nations behind them and beat Burkina Faso today in the second series of Group A matches.
A “Panthers” team captained by the Borussia Dortmund star striker conceded a last-minute goal to only draw 1-1 with minnows Guinea-Bissau in the tournament opener.
Former African Footballer of the Year Aubameyang put the home team ahead with a tap-in only for Juary Soares to nod the leveller off a free-kick.
With four-time champions Cameroon held 1-1 by Burkina Faso later last Saturday, every team has one point and identical goal records going into the second round of group games.
Aubameyang knows he and his teammates let supporters of the central African team down and has promised a better performance against opponents they beat 2-0 at the same stage two years ago.
“We have learnt from our mistakes,” said the 27-year-old born in France to a Gabonese father and a Spanish mother, making him eligible to represent three nations.
He opted for Gabon, a country once captained by his father who have never gone further than the quarterfinals at the Cup of Nations. I remain positive that we can reach our first goal, which is qualifying for the knockout phase,” said the leading Bundesliga scorer this season with 16 goals from 15 matches.” -
Gabon Guinea-Bissau share points
Indications that earning points at the on going Afcon will not be a tea party emerged in the opening match as new comers Guinea Bissau held hosts Gabon to a 1-1 draw.
The African minnows scored a 91st minute equaliser through Juary Soares to claim a point in the Group A clash.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looked to have secured all three points for the Panthers, but a reduction in tempo on the part of the hosts in the last 10 minutes of the match gave Guinea Bissau and edge and the much needed break to level.
Gabon’s first chance of the match fell to Malick Evouna on 20 minutes, but the China-based forward was unable to direct Aubameyang’s pin-point cross past the Guinea-Bissau goal-minder.
Zezinho then fired the visitors first shot in anger over the crossbar in the 31st minute before Mario Lemina saw his header attempt just wide of goal at the other end of the park.
The home side came out firing after the break with Denis Bouanga forcing Jonas Mendes into a good save in the 49th minute of the clash, and it would be the Strasbourg man to play a key role in the first goal of the showpiece.
Aubameyang popping up at the far post to poke home a precise cross by Bouanga three minutes later, 1-0 to Gabon.
The Borussia Dortmund forward squandered a glorious chance to double the lead in the 69th minute. Lemina doing excellent work to keep the ball in play before supplying the Panthers captain, who sent his volley attempt over the crossbar. -
Aubameyang will be sold at the right price
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could leave the club if the price is right,but he is confident the Gabon international will remain for the foreseeable future.
Aubameyang is continually being linked with a move away from the Bundesliga club, with Real Madrid reported to be topping his list of admirers.
Nevertheless, Watzke sees no reason for concern just yet when it comes to the 27-year-old’s future.
“I do not think there are an awful lot of clubs Auba would like to join,” Watzke told Bild.
“There has been a lot of talk about a transfer for the past two or three years, but he is still at Dortmund. It used to be the same story with Marco Reus. He was supposedly going to every club in the world as well, but he is still here.
“Of course, everyone has his price in football, regardless of who we are talking about.
“But we are not even thinking about a transfer at the moment, because there is nothing happening for now.
“And if an offer comes in that does turn his head, we will sit down and discuss it. But even that does not mean he will definitely leave. Auba still has a long-term contract here [until 2020].” -
Dortmund confident of Aubameyang stay
Borussia Dortmund have expressed ‘total confidence’ in retaining the services of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The 27-year-old Gabon international, who is contracted with the Bundesliga club until 2020, has been linked with a move to Manchester City.
“Right now he is our player, he stays our player,” Dortmund head coach Thomas Tuchel said of Aubameyang, who scored 25 league goals for the Bundesliga club last season.
“I am totally confident [he will stay]. He is a huge personality for us. Right now, I would say he stays but I can’t predict the future.”
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Aubameyang dethrones Toure as Glo African Footballer of the Year
Panthers of Gabon Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last night dethroned Manchester City midfield maestro Yaya Toure to become the 2015 Glo Africa Footballer of The Year.
At a glamorous ceremony at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja , the Gabonese striker was picked based n his exploits in the German Bundesliga where he plays.
Apart from his outing for his club, the light skinned striker was also instrumental in Gabon’s qualification for the last round of qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
Nigerian players won awards in other categories at the impressive ceremony co-hosted by broadcaster Robert Marawa and top Ghanaian actress Juliet Ibrahim.
Teenage sensation Victor Osimhen won the award for the Youth Player ahead of his compatriot and captain in the Golden Eaglets squad, Kelechi Nwakali and Mali’s duo of Adama Traore and Samuel Diarra, Mali.
Another Nigerian, Etebo Oghenekaro emerged the Most Promising Talent of the Year after his five goals at the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations helped Nigeria’s Dream Team VI to win the tournament which served as qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Golden Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke lost out to Herve Renard in the Coach of the Year category. Renard led the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire to win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
Cote d’Ivoire emerged the National Team of the Year having won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 23 years and already in the final round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta was adjudged the Africa Player of the Year based in Africa. The forward scored seven goals for his club TP Mazembe of Congo DR as they lifted the CAF Champions League for a record fifth time.
The Women National Team of the Year went to the Lionesses of Cameroon for getting to the knock out stages of the last edition of the Women’s World Cup held in Canada last year in their their debut appearance.
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Aubameyang dethrones Toure as Glo African Footballer of the Year
Panthers of Gabon Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last night dethroned Manchester City midfield maestro Yaya Toure to emerge as the 2015 Glo Africa Footballer of The Year.
At a glamorous ceremony at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja , the Gabonese striker was picked based n his exploits in the German Bundesliga where he plays.
Apart from his outing for his club, the light skinned striker was also instrumental in Gabon’s qualification for the last round of qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
Nigerian players won awards in other categories at the impressive ceremony co-hosted by broadcaster Robert Marawa and top Ghanaian actress Juliet Ibrahim.
Teenage sensation Victor Osimhen won the award for the Youth Player ahead of his compatriot and captain in the Golden Eaglets squad, Kelechi Nwakali and Mali’s duo of Adama Traore and Samuel Diarra, Mali.
Another Nigerian, Etebo Oghenekaro emerged the Most Promising Talent of the Year after his five goals at the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations helped Nigeria’s Dream Team VI to win the tournament which served as qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Golden Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke lost out to Herve Renard in the Coach of the Year category. Renard led the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire to win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
Cote d’Ivoire emerged the National Team of the Year having won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 23 years and already in the final round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta was adjudged the Africa Player of the Year based in Africa. The forward scored seven goals for his club TP Mazembe of Congo DR as they lifted the CAF Champions League for a record fifth time.
The Women National Team of the Year went to the Lionesses of Cameroon for getting to the knock out stages of the last edition of the Women’s World Cup held in Canada last year in their their debut appearance.
The Woman Player of the Year also went to Lionesses of Cameroon forward,Gaelle Enganamouit for her exploits at the Women’s World Cup in Canada which assisted the Lionesses to get to the knock out stages of the tournament.
TP Mazembe of DR Congo were named the Club of the Year after winning their fifth CAF Champions League title,beating USM Algiers 4-1 on aggregat in the final.
The Referee of the Year went to Gambia’s Bakary Papa Gassama while Allez Casa,the Supporters’ club of the Senegalese National team got the CAF Fair Play Award.
Charles Kumi Gyamfi of Ghana and Cameroon’s Samuel Mbappé Léppé grabbed the African Legend award. -
Glo-CAF Awards: Ayew, Toure, Aubameyang listed
• Amuneke nominated for Coach of the Year
• Nwakali, Osimhen, Etebo also shortlistedThe Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Abuja on Monday announced the names of three top nominees for the 2015 African Footballer of the Year Award.
The names were announced at a joint press briefing by the CAF, organisers of the most prestigious annual African footballer of the year award and its exclusive sponsor, Globacom, the Next Generation Network at a joint press conference held at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja on Monday.
The three nominees, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon & Borrussia Dortmund of Germany, four-time African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City and Andrew Ayew of Ghana and Swansea City FC were announced by CAF Executive Committee Member, Moucharafou Anjorin, who represented CAF at the event.
CAF also released the names of top three finalists for the Africa-based ‘Player of the Year’ Award. They are: Mbwana Aly Samatta of Tanzania and TP Mazembe, Baghdad Bounedjah of Algeria and Etoile du Sahel and Robert Kidiaba of Dmocratic Republic of Congo and TP Mazembe.
The list was prepared through a vigorous selection process by the Technical, Football and Media Committees of CAF, taking into account the performance of the players for their national teams and clubs from January to November of each year.
The King will be crowned at the Awards Night holding at the International Convention Centre, Abuja on January 7, 2016.
Also released is the list of nominees for other categories of the Awards. Nominated for Women Player of the Year are the duo of Gabrielle Onguene and Gaelle Enganamouit of Cameroon, Ngozi Ebere of Nigeria, N’rehy Tia Ines of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana’s Portia Boakye while the Youth Player of the Year has Adama Traore of Mali, Kelechi Nwakali of Nigeria, Samuel Diarra of Mali, Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Yaw Yeboha of Ghana as nominees.
For the Coach of the Year Award, Baye Ba of Mali U- 17 team, Emmanuel Amuneke of Nigeria’s U-17 team, Fawzi Benzarti of Etoile Sportive de Sahel, Herve Renard of Cote dIvoire and Patrice Carteron of TPMazembe were nominated while Azubuike Okechukwu of Nigeria, Djigui Diarra of Mali, Etebo Oghenekaro of Nigeria, Mahmoud Abdelmonem of Egypt, and Zinedine Ferhat of Algeria were shortlisted for the Most Promising Player of Year Award.
Others are African Legend Award which will be decided between Charles Kumi Gyamfi of Ghana and Samuel Mbappe Leppe of Cameroon and National Team of the Year Award which will be contested for by Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali U-17, Nigeria U-17 and Nigeria U-23 teams.
USMA of Algeria, TP Mazembe of DR Congo, Orlando Pirates of South Africa and Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia were nominated for Club of the Year Award while in the Women National Team of the Year category Ghana, Camerron, South Africa and Zimbabwe were shortlisted.
Five referees including Alioum of Cameroon, Bakary Papa Gassama of Gambia, Eric Arnaud Otogo Castane of Gabon, Ghead Zaglol Grisha of Egypt and Janny Sikazwe of Zambia will compete for the Referee of The Year Award. The prestigious Platinum Award will be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for being the host and for his passionate commitment to the development of football.
The Glo-CAF Awards gala has become one of the world’s most iconic sports awards ceremonies, providing Africa with a reputable forum for recognising and rewarding excellence in the various departments of football.
Globacom Limited and CAF have been in partnership for the past 11 years, and have worked together to make the African Best Football Player Awards glamorous, thereby stimulating the growth of African football.
Speaking at the event, Globacom’ s Business Director, North West, Kemi Kaka who represented the company at the occasion, said that “This is the 11th year of Glo-CAF partnership and we at Glo take pride in the significant strides our alliance with CAF has achieved in raising the quality and popularity of football in Africa.”
Kaka said: “Globacom will continue to use its clout in sports sponsorships in Africa to encourage people in sports, African Culture and business to excel.”
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Enyeama congratulates Toure on CAF award
Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, has congratulated Manchester City star, Yaya Toure, for winning the 2014 CAF African Player of the Year Award.
The event, which took place in Lagos, Nigeria, on Thursday night, saw Toure beat Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Enyeama in that order to the award, but the 32-year old goalkeeper has hailed the Ivoirian for winning the award.
“Congratulations to Yaya Toure for being the 2014 African footballer of the year. #bravo Yaya,” sl10.ng quoted the Lille shot stopper as saying on his Instagram page.
Thursday’s success made it four consecutive wins for the Ivoirian – equaling Samuel Eto’s record of four wins, but also becoming the first player to win it four times consecutively.
Enyeama, who finished third in the polls behind Aubameyang and Toure, also had some praise for his family, fans, and the media, thanking them for their support.
“A very big thank you to my #SUPER GOD or bringing me this far, without HIM, I wouldn’t have been here. Thank you to my sweet wife and my diamond. Thanks to all my family members, friends and loved ones.
“Big thanks to my coaches and teammates, my fans and supporters, media men and women. I love you all. You guys rock. You guys are great. Thank you for all the support,” he added.
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CAF awards: Enyeama better than Toure, Aubameyang – Agu
Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Alloy Agu, has said Vincent Enyeama deserves to be crowned Africa’s best player for 2014, ahead of current holder Yaya Toure, and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
The former Super Eagles shot stopper said Enyeama had a better 2014 when compared to his adversaries, and as a result, he is more deserving of the award.
“If you check the calendar year of 2014, you will see that Vincent (Enyeama) did better that both Yaya Toure and the other guy (Aubameyang).
“He was one of the reasons why we qualified to the World Cup and his performances at the World Cup was better than Yaya Toure’s and the other guy (Aubameyang) didn’t even make it to the World Cup.
“And for their clubs, Enyeama kept so many clean sheets and even went several games without conceding and that says a lot,” Agu told sl10.ng.
But despite the air of optimism about Enyeama’s chances, Agu however admitted that being a goalkeeper could play against the Nigerian captain.
“Unfortunately they always favour outfield players and we must say Yaya Toure has done well too. But I think it should be about the whole team, and not just where you play because if it goes this way, it may be a disadvantage for Vincent (Enyeama),” he added.