Postpublished at 19:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Aubameyang opens scoring for Gabon
Malick Evouna heads in to double lead
Burkina Faso were runners-up in 2013
FT: Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo
Nsue for hosts but Bifouma levels
Postpublished at 19:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 19:41 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Faso have eight shots to Gabon's four so far. They've made the better chances and dubious defending in this game means we should see more goals.
GREAT SAVE!published at 19:39 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Didier Ovono in Gabon's goal will form part of Jonathan Pitroipa's nightmares tonight if things stay like this. He has already saved from the striker once but this time his stop is superb.
Pitroipa pounces on a cross-shot and guides an effort at goal from five yards...must be...no...parried away. The keeper claps his giant gloves to wake his defenders up.
I love it when a keeper hands out some verbals after making a save. Capitalise on your glory and all that.
Postpublished at 19:35 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesCLOSE!published at 19:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
End-to-end at the moment as Ibrahim N'Dong collects a cross which evaded all his Gabon team-mates in the area to lash left-footed from around 18 yards.
It's from an angle but whistles inches wide. Good hit. That would have punished Pitroipa's poor miss moments ago.
CLOSE!published at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Some neat interchange between Alain Traore and Jonathan Pitroipa but the former finds himself squeezed out by two Gabon central defenders and now it's Pitroipa, one on one...a great opening...lame.
He has time and space as the ball rolls across his body but his shot is tame and easily held. What an opening.
Image source, AFP/GETTYPostpublished at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Gabon's back four looked flat and penetrable early on but the goal seems to have settled any nerves and they look robust as a few questions are asked with throw ins and balls from wide areas. They get an offside trap bang on to catch Jonathan Potroipa and so far Faso have not responded with any menace.
We know what you're about...published at 19:25 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Burkina Faso and Gabon know all about one another, they faced each other in the qualifying group to get to the tournament. Gabon beat Faso in what was their only loss of qualifying while the return meeting ended in a 1-1 draw.
Image source, AFP/GETTYPostpublished at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
So what have you got Burkina Faso? You showed your hand early on and looked decent, none more so that Jonathan Pitroipa. This wasn't what you wanted so it's time to dig in.
GOALpublished at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Image source, AFPDelightful from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. His finish is calm, accomplished and deadly.
He races onto a pass from Andre Poko and tries to poke the ball home but is denied by a save. As the rebound runs into his path he checks to flummox defenders and goalkeeper on the goalline, before bending his 14th international goal into the top corner.
They make look shoddy at the back but they're anything but up front.
Image source, AFPThey'll make you workpublished at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
CLOSE!published at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
He is at it against, Bertrand Traore runs on to a pull-back from Jonathan Pitroipa and from 10 yards he will shoot will he...no...a brave diving block by Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Good defending individually but Gabon suddenly look a bit off the pace here across their back four.
GREAT SAVE!published at 19:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Bertrand Traore has already had a sighter but this time he follows Jonathan Pitroipa who tries to crash himself through challenges. As the ball spills free, Traore - of Dutch side Vitesse - lashes one from range and forces a superb save.
CLOSE!published at 19:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Some good defending by Faso centre-back Mohamed Koffi as he spots a run from midfield by André Poko and gets across to smash the ball out for a corner. No nonsense, job done. A good bit of covering.
Postpublished at 19:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
It's 28 degrees in Bata this evening so expect some serious sweat here.
These sides look well drilled and ready for a game which many think comprises the two teams which will top the Group and reach the last eight.
Both have attacked in wide areas but hard, grizzly defending prevents crosses. Bertrand Traore - one of about 600 Traores in the Burkina Faso side - fires well wide from range.
Time to share your clothespublished at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Burkina Faso have had issues with their luggage arriving in Equatorial Guinea and a few setbacks with their hotel booking. Is it just me or has every team had issues with hotels?
There must be a gap in the market for a reliable travel agent in the country.
A new dawn?published at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Postpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Jonathan Pitroipa will lead the line for Burkina Faso and he shows a nice jink and twist when he receives the ball in a deep area. Tight stuff so far with both sides looking organised without the ball.
KICK-OFFpublished at 19:02 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Ball rolling. That opening match had little shape, will this one have more structure?
Journalists on the runpublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2015
Image source, AFPFrom BBC Sport's Nick Cavell in Bata: "Seems some fans have left after that first match but some very vocal Gabon and Burkina Faso fans have made it into the stadium - many of them pushing their way through the mixed zone where journalists are meant to interview players. A few police tried pushing them back but with little success forcing the journalists to flee."