Equatorial Guinea grabbed two second-half goals to beat Gabon 2-0 and qualify for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Both sides went in level at the break following a relatively dull first half, in which Gabon boasted the best chances but failed to make the most of them.
The host nation, who knew a victory was needed to progress, then took a big step toward the last eight when Javier Balbao won and converted a penalty on 55 minutes.
Second-half substitute Ivan Edu Salvador then completed the scoring in the final stages of normal time to seal their progression alongside Group A winners Congo.
Below, relive all of the drama in Bata.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of Equatorial Guinea's must-win clash with Gabon in their final Group A game in the Africa Cup of Nations. We nearly drafted in Stephen Hawking, the bloke from a Beautiful Mind and Chris from the Eggheads in a bid to figure out the permutations of qualification here, but I figured it out in the end. Here's the state of play, my friends:
Firstly, host nation Equatorial Guinea, who sit third in Group A, one point behind Gabon in second and two behind leaders Congo, have to win in order to advance into the quarter-finals. They've drawn their opening two games but it simply has to be a case of third-time lucky if the tournaments hosts are to move into the last eight.
Secondly, Gabon, who beat Burkina Faso 2-0 before losing 1-0 to Congo last time out, will progress with a win, but a draw will also do the trick for Jorge Costa's side. It wasn't that tricky actually; well not compared to Group D, where all four sides - Cameroon, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Mali - have the exact same number of points, goals scored and conceded, because all four games have ended 1-1. We might need Hawking, Nash and the Egghead back to figure that one out.
Anywho, let's crack on with a bit of team news, shall we? Why not. Stay tuned.
GABON XI: Ovono; Palun, Manga, Appindangoye, Obiang; Kanga, Madinda, Poko; Aubameyang, Bulot, Evouna
EQUATORIAL GUINEA XI: Ovono; Randy, Vazquez, Da Gracia, Bohale; Ellong, Zarandona, Balboa, Kike; Nsue, Fabiani
GABON SUBS: Mezui, Mbingui, Oto'o Zue, Ndong, Ze Ondo, Rogombe, Sokambi, N'doumbou, Moto
EQUATORIAL GUINEA SUBS: Embela, Evuy, Egonga, Juvenal, Boldado, Belima, Dario, Charly, Angel, Ganet, Mosibe
Alright, so Costa makes just one change to his Gabon side from that 1-0 defeat to Congo, with Kanga Guelor coming into the midfield for Ibrahima Ndong. It's the same three-pronged attack of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Frederic Bulot and Malick Evouna. Aubameyang missed an astonishingly easy chance in the setback at Congo, and he'll be keen to atone for that costly error.
On to the hosts now and Esteban Becker makes two changes from their 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso on matchday two. Diosdado Mbele drops out of defence for Daniel Vazquez, while forward Salvador Iban is dropped to the bench in favour of Raul Fabiani. Watch out for Javier Balbao - no relation to Rocky, who is American and not real - because he's certainly one of Equatorial Guinea's better players. He only came through Real Madrid's youth academy.
Incidentally, Congo's clash with Burkina Faso will kick off at the same time, and we'll have updates from that one as they happen. Every team in Group A can still qualify!
We've got five minutes to go before kickoff, so let's take a quick look at why the omens might just favour a Gabon win here. They've only qualified for the quarter-final stage on two occasions in AFCON history, but they've also only lost one of their last 10 games against the National Thunder (Equatorial Guinea's nickname Don't ask me why) so they'll fancy their chances of sealing their progression tonight.
Right, we've had the national anthems and kickoff is just a few minutes away now.
KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off here, my friends. Referees haven't covered themselves in too much glory so far in this competition, so hopefully this fella is a little better than what we've seen so far.
Fairly tentative start here, my friends. Nobody has really taken control in a very competitive game thus far, with no chances to speak of as yet. Gabon will swing a free kick into the box now though...
But it comes to nothing as Equatorial Guinea comfortably clear the danger. The standard of set-piece delivery has been a little poor in this competition so far it has to be said.
Oh dear. We mentioned the poor quality of officiating in this competition at the beginning, and we've seen a prime example of it. Gabon keeper Didier Ovono concedes a free kick for handling outside the area; the problem is he didn't! Such a bad decision. Fortunately, the resulting free kick flies over the bar. It was the linesman, not the referee who made the call.
We've seen very little of danger man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang so far. According to legend he does a 30-meter dash in under four seconds, so he's obviously one that Equatorial Guinea will need to keep an eye on.
Really good work from Andre Poko as he breaks up an Equatorial Guinea attack. He's been excellent in the competition so far; a real sentry sitting in front of Gabon's back four.
First real promising attack by Gabon as left-back Obiang gets forward really well and drills a low ball across the box for Aubameyang, who is beaten to the ball by Rui I think it was. Promising, though.
BOOKING! We've seen the first booking of the night as Gabon left-back Johan Obiang goes into the book for tripping Boula Senobua as he looked to lead a counter-attack. Right decision.
CHANCE! Superb defending from Bruno Manga as he produces a goal-saving intervention as Bosio looked certain to tap home Kike Boula's low cross. Wonderful counter-attack.
CHANCE!!! It's a good save but it should be 1-0 to Gabon. Bulot Wagha floats a beautiful cross into the area as Aubameyang comes from nowhere and thumps a header at goal, but Ovono is equal to it. He has to score that, though; either side of Felipe Ovono and it's 1-0.
BOOKING! Another correct decision from the ref! I don't believe my eyes. Iban Iyanga, also known as Randy for some reason, goes into the book for a cynical foul on Aubameyang. 1-1 in the yellow card stakes.
Did you know that Gabon have never won an Africa Cup of Nations outing on a Sunday? I'll be dropping in more interesting trivia such as this when there's nothing else to say because the game has gone a bit flat.
Excellent bit of skill from Kike Boula to beat Obiang, but his end product is missing on this occasion. In fact, a lack of end product is a recurring theme in this competition.
CHANCE!!! And here's another example of one team lacking a final ball, as Frederic Bulut exchanges a neat one-two with Evouna before going one-on-one with Ovono, but he rushes his shot and the keeper spreads himself well to make the save. Should be 2-0 to Gabon.
UPDATE: I can confirm that it's still 0-0 between Congo and Burkina Faso. Remember, Equatorial Guinea have to win here to advance, while avoiding defeat will see Gabon progress to the quarter-finals.
Right, 10 minutes until the break and Gabon could, and definitely should, be at least 1-0 up after Aubameyang and Bulut both wasted really good chances. Bulut's effort was particularly poor it has to be said.
CHANCE! Equatorial Guinea have bossed possession in the last few minutes and something better should've come from this. Nsue looks to play Bosio into a one-on-one situation with Ovono, but he gets the weight of the pass all wrong. The right ball and maybe, just maybe, it's 1-0 to the host nation.
If anybody's in the region of Estadio De Ebebiyin can they nip down and get the ball that Kike Boula has just volleyed out of the stadium? Cheers.
The set-piece delivery has been really, really poor. Javier Balboa, and not for the first time, wastes a corner as his cross fails to beat the first man. They've got a 6'8 striker in Bosio, so it might be worth relieving Balboa of set-piece duties? Just a thought.
HALF TIME: GABON 0-0 EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Disappointing first half there it has to be said. Gabon, who need a point to guarantee their progression, should be dreaming of a quarter-final place around now, but they missed two good chances through the quiet Aubameyang and the wasteful Bulut.
Equatorial Guinea, to their credit, have got themselves into some really promising areas at times, but their final ball has been dreadful. They'd have scored one or two had their end product been on point. Becker won't be too unhappy with his side, though. They need to win to progress, and they're still very much in the game, but you get the impression that their quarter-final hopes hinge on their final ball.
I should mention that it's 0-0 between Congo and Burkina Faso in Group A's other game tonight. As it stands, the group looks like this:
Congo - 5
Gabon - 4
Equatorial Guinea - 3
Burkina Faso - 2
KICKOFF: Right, both sets of players are back out on the field. Equatorial Guinea need to win, and Gabon need a point. I'm not going to lie, we could see a shocking second-half because victory is not in Gabon's best interests, but let's see. At what point does Jorge Costa say "stuff this" and look to hold on to what he has?
SHOT! Aubameyang fizzes a free kick at Felipe Ovono's goal early on, but the Equatorial Guinea keeper punches it over the bar, before the corner comes from nothing. Good start by Gabon.
SAVE: Much better free kick means that a much better save is required, as Bulut curls a fine effort around the wall and it looks destined for the top corner, but Felipe Ovono tips it over at the last moment. Excellent save.
BOOKING: Incidentally, Ivan Zarandona was booked for conceding that free kick.
UPDATE: We've had a goal as Congo move 1-0 ahead against the 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso!
Here's what Group A looks like at the moment.
Congo - 7
Gabon - 4
Equatorial Guinea - 3
Burkina Faso - 1
PENALTY TO EQUATORIAL GUINEA!!! Huge moment in this game as Equatorial Guinea, who need a win to progress, earn a penalty after Javier Balboa went down under a challenge from Palun!
GOAL!!!!!!!!!! GABON 0-1 EQUATORIAL GUINEA (Javier Balboa penalty)
This is an outstanding penalty considering the pressure as Balbao strokes right into the corner as the host nation dream of a quarter-final spot. Over to you, Gabon! We've finally got a game on here.
SAVE! Punchdrunk Gabon should be 2-0 down as Bosio goes one-on-one with Didier Ovono, and you think he's just going to stroke beyond Ovono with his right foot, but he goes with his left and the Gabon stopper makes a save that he would not have made had Bosio went right-footed. Poor choice.
And here's what Group A now looks like:
Congo - 7
Equatorial Guinea - 5
Gabon - 3
Burkina Faso - 1
Gabon fans are still in high spirits thankfully, because the players could do with a bit of impetus. Aubameyang, billed as the next big African player, needs to live up to his billing in the next half-hour or so because he's been very disappointing.
Bosio hasn't done much, but he's putting in a real shift up front now; chasing every lost cause and putting pressure on Gabon defenders and keeper Didier Ovono.
SUB: Becker makes Equatorial Guinea's first change as Iban Edu comes on to replace Kike Boula. When will Gabon make their first sub? Surely it can't be long now. They need a goal, but Jorge Costa seems reluctant to make a change.
SUB: Yep, Costa rolls the dice for the first time and replaces Ibrahima Ndong with Andre Poko for the last 20 minutes. He's a big, combative midfielder, but surely they need a creative spark? Famous last words perhaps, but what is Ndong going to do?
SHOT! What a hit this was, as Balbao fires a fierce shot at goal, but Ovono, who spilled the initial effort, gathered at the second attempt.
Where on earth is Aubameyang? He's been completely anonymous in this game, especially since Gabon went a goal down. He expressed an ambition to emulate Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba in becoming Africa's next top star before the competition began, but I don't remember Eto'o or Drogba going into hiding when the going got tough. Really disappointing.
SUB: Equatorial Guinea make their second sub now as Juvenal Edjogo replaces striker Bosio. That's a defender for a striker, which should illustrate their intentions for the last 15 minutes.
MISS!!!! Oh my word how costly is this going to be? Balbao, whose penalty is the difference between both sides at the moment, misses a brilliant chance to settle this probably once and for all. He runs on to Nsue's brilliant through ball and looks to drag a shot beyond Ovono, who saves brilliantly with his legs. Will they rue that chance? We'll know in about 12 minutes.
UPDATE: It's still 1-0 to Congo against Burkina Faso. Just a reminder that, as it stands, Congo and Equatorial Guinea are heading into the quarter-finals. Gabon need a goal - and quick!
Gabon still toiling in the final third. Aside from Bulut's excellent free kick early in the second half, they haven't really threatened Equatorial Guinea's goal at all! They've been nothing short of dreadful it has to be said, with Aubameyang deserving of a big slice of the blame for not turning up.
SHOT! Aubameyang fires a free kick well over the bar and Jorge Costa literally performs a facepalm and turns away in disgust. That just about sums it up.
GOAL!!!! GABON 0-2 EQUATORIAL GUINEA (Ivan Edu Salvador)
The host nation have all but secured their place in the quarter-final as Ivan Edu Salvador scuffs home a shot from close range after Nsue forced Ovono into a save and that should be that. Amazing scenes as Edu rips his jersey off and goes celebrating with the fans.
Drama in Ebebiyin as Burkina Faso equalise to leave themselves with a slim chance of progression, but Congo only go and score moments later and it's 2-1. They'll top Group A, while Equatorial Guinea will progress in second place.
FIVE MINUTES ADDED ON:
Equatorial Guinea subs line up on the side of the pitch in preparation to storm the field at full time. You could say they're overreacting, considering they only move into the quarter-finals, but they will not have expected this at the start of play, hence why it means so much more. Fair play to them.
Anyway, that's all we've got time for you this evening sadly, but we're back tomorrow for Group B as Cape Verde clash with Zambia, while Tunisia face off with Congo DR as all four sides remain in contention for the quarter-finals. See you tomorrow!
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
Eq Guinea
Nigeria
Ivory Coast
Guinea-Bissau
Cape Verde
Egypt
Ghana
Mozambique
Senegal
Guinea
Cameroon
Gambia
Angola
Burkina Faso
Mauritania
Algeria
Mali
South Africa
Namibia
Tunisia
Morocco
Congo DR
Tanzania
Zambia
