So, a rather scrappy first half. Gabon looked the better side but struggled to translate their superiority into clear chances. Congo coach Claude Le Roy will probably be quite pleased with the way his unfancied team have acquitted themselves, but will have big worries over an injury to key man Thievy Bifouma. A goal for either side would leave them very well-placed in this group.

BBC Sport's Alex South in Equatorial Guinea: About to interview Kolo Toure. Guinea and Ivory Coast in same hotel and great to see the players mix .

Congo's Boris Moubhibo picks up the first booking of the match for handball. The free-kick comes to nothing, and that is half-time.

Aubameyang finds a bit of space down the left, but his cross is cut out and Congo have a chance to counterattack. The limping Bifouma plays a good pass to find Dore on the right wing but his centre is poor.

Gabon go close as at last they find a cutting edge in the final third. Palun knocks a ball forward down the inside-right channel towards Madinda, who does brilliantly to flick it over the defender's head, before firing just wide across the face of goal. Bifouma is back on for Congo, but moving gingerly - perhaps just waiting for a full assessment at half-time.

Congo's star man Thievy Bifouma is down here, and Claude Le Roy looks worried. The challenge looked innocuous enough, but the stretcher is out and the striker is holding his face in distress here. His race looks run.

Lovely flick from Madinda to release Bulot down the left, but his curling cross is well claimed by Mafoumbi. Both sides struggling to find that quality in the final third so far.

BBC Sport's Steve Crossman in Bata: Congo boss Claude Le Roy told me before the game he thought there was a big difference in strength between Gabon's attack and their defence, he also said Thievy Bifouma is as good as Roger Milla. Those two things combined should have made for a more fruitful half than Congo have enjoyed.

Having said that, they're not struggling particularly, just not creating enough.

Madinda tries to tease a ball through for Evouna, but the Congo defender gets a toe to it ahead of the striker and Mafoumbi is able to gather. Both sides are trying to play through the middle here, with little effectiveness. Congo win a corner down the other end and hit it straight into touch. Very sloppy.

BBC Sport's Steve Crossman in Bata:, external Some of the home fans just trying to touch their heroes. The electric batons came out to keep them back.

Hosts Equatorial Guinea drew 0-0 with Burkina Faso earlier today.

Congo midfielder Dore gets caught in the face by a flailing arm from Madinda, and there's a short break while he leaves the pitch to receive treatment. A goal here would not go amiss.

Image source, AFP

Congo have a free kick out wide right but Ovono is out quickly to punch clear a decent delivery from Bifouma. This match has just settled down after a frenetic opening, but it is Gabon who look the more comfortable in possession.

Congo coach Claude Le Roy is in the dugout for his eighth Cup of Nations. He's previously taken charge of Senegal and DR Congo, and won the tournament with Cameroon in 1988. His side look second best so far, but they're holding firm.

Image source, Getty Images

This dates back to 1974... It has been a long wait.

Gabon have a free-kick out by the corner flag but Bulot's delivery is poor and Mafoumbi claims easily.

Gabon are in the ascendancy now. Poko shoots just over from outside the area after more good work from Madinda.

How does this not go in? Madinda plays in Evouna from the left and the striker bursts through the middle of the Congo defence. The keeper comes out to smother as he shoots and the ball somehow ricochets off defender Bissiki and dribbles agonisingly wide of the unguarded net.

Congo have started well here. A long ball is lofted into the area and Moutou, perhaps suffering from pretensions of his almost-namesake Adrian, decides to smash it goalwards from a tight angle when he probably should have squared.

Moutou shows a good turn of pace for Congo down the right and Palun brings him down rashly. Another promising position for a free kick. But Bifouma's delivery is dreadful - he scuffs it along the floor and Gabon hack clear. Must do better.