A great hanging cross from the right wing loops onto the head of Jonathan Pitroipa, but he can't quite contort himself to direct his header goalwards. Burkina have started menacingly.

Gabon win a free-kick as Viera Ellong goes in hard on Frederic Bulot, who is on loan at Charlton. The Gabon player limps away but he's OK to continue.

The free-kick comes to nothing as an Equatoguinean defender heads away.

Neat intricate interplay by Burkina Faso on the edge of the area, but Jonathan Pitroipa is just offside as the ball is rolled into him for a shooting chance. Pitroipa looks to be playing as a centre-forward tonight.

Gorrie B Jallow: I prefer Burkina to make it through because of my star Alain Traore...

Congo have an early free-kick 20 yards out. Delvin N'Dinga curls it straight into the wall. Four of Congo's six goals in qualifying came in the opening 16 minutes, so they're a dangerous side in the early stages.

Sulaimon Adelekan: I want Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to go through. Gabon all the way.

Teddy Fleuridon: Looking forward to my country Congo to win 2-0, they look good. Claude Le Roy is doing a great job with the players.

BBC Sport's Nick Cavell in Bata

"It's not quite a full stadium at the moment - there are some empty seats behind the Gabon goal.

"There are several hundred Gabonese fans who have made the journey over the border to support the Panthers.

"There are a few people still making there way into the ground but no signs of the trouble that there was last time a match was played here in Bata - the police and army are out in force with guns on show to deter troublemakers. On the way to the ground we say water cannons and tanks deployed around the city."

We are under way in Bata for this winner-takes-all match. A draw takes Gabon through.

We're underway in Ebebiyin. The 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso, playing in green, kick us off. Congo, currently top of this group, are in red.

Burkina Faso's players look focused and confident ahead of kick-off in Ebebiyin. Can they break their goalscoring duck?

National anthems time in Bata, a fair old noise being made for Equatorial Guinea's ditty. It's almost time to go.

Burkina Faso made it all the way to the final in 2013, but despite being fancied to advance from this rather accommodating group, they've stuttered and struggled so far, losing their opening game to Gabon and following up with a goalless draw against Equatorial Guinea.

Only a win today will do for the Stallions (something they've managed only once in their last 19 Afcon group games), but coach Paul Put hasn't given up hope.

"We know we are in a difficult position but we have to believe still in our chances," he said.

"In football anything is possible - nobody was expecting Burkina Faso in the final [in 2013], so I always tell my players we play game by game, and we will see how far we can go."

BBC Sport's Matthew Kenyon in Ebebiyin

"Massive noise in Ebebeyin from the Burkinabe fans... about 200 of them off to my right, one massive drum, loads of flags, and some awesome costumes - including the guy dressed as a stallion. Full of fur covered outfit... it's cooled down a bit, but he surely must be incredibly hot in there."

Image source, Getty Images

Congo are top of Group A after following their draw against Equatorial Guinea in the tournament curtain-raiser with an impressive win over Gabon - their first Afcon victory since 1974.

Veteran coach Claude Le Roy is bidding for a seventh quarter-final spot from eight attempts with five countries.

"Today it's a dream. I will see if tomorrow it's a reality," he told BBC Sport.

"I won't play for a draw. If you want to play like that you have to change the coach because it's not in my genetics as a football coach."

Who do you think will get out of today's group? Can anyone from Group A challenge for the title, or will they just go out in the quarter-finals?

Burkina Faso reached the last final but boss Paul Put said: "You have to be realistic in football. Just because you were the vice-champion in 2013 doesn't mean you now have to win the Africa Cup of Nations."

Is he right to keep expectations low?

Let us know using #bbcafcon2015 , externalon Twitter, 81111 on text (UK only, please let us know your names) or on our Facebook page., external

Image source, Getty Images

Gabon got off to an excellent start in this group, beating 2013 finalists Burkina Faso 2-0 in their opening game. But they suffered an unexpected setback in their next match, losing 1-0 to Congo.

However Jorge Costa's side, captained by talismanic Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, are still in a relatively strong position and know they will progress today as long as they avoid defeat to Equatorial Guinea.

The Panthers are bidding to make it to the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history.

Image source, Getty Images

Equatorial Guinea weren't even supposed to be at this tournament. The National Thunder were thrown out of the qualifying competition for fielding an ineligible player, but designated hosts Morocco withdrew following fears over the Ebola crisis, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Despite being the lowest-ranked nation at this tournament, the hosts have acquitted themselves impressively so far, holding Congo and Burkina Faso to battling draws.

Today though, they must find a way to beat Gabon in order not to be the first team to leave their own party. Much could depend on the goalscoring threat of Middlesbrough's Emilio Nsue, who had to watch from afar as his club side knocked Manchester City out of the FA Cup yesterday.

BBC Sport's Matthew Kenyon in Ebebiyin

"Two changes from both coaches... Congo's Claude Le Roy is forced to make one adjustment, because Moubhibo is suspended for this one, so he brings in Francis Nganga.

"The other change sees Cesair Gandze drop to the bench with Franci Litsingi coming in.

"And interesting from Burkinabe coach Paul Put - given they have to win to have a chance. The big man Aristide Bance is on the bench, as is Bertrand Traore. In come Razak Traore and Prejuce Nakoulma. Plenty of firepower left on the bench for the Stallions if we're tied at 1-1 with 10 minutes to go!"

Gabon: Ovono Ebang, Obiang, Ecuele Manga, Appinda Ngoye, Palun, Biyogo Poko, Kanga, Madinda, Bulot, Evouna, Aubameyang. Subs: Mfa Mezui, Lengoualama, Mbingui, Oto'o Zue, Ndong, N'Doumbou, Ze Ondo, Sokambi, Rogombe, N'Dong, Bitseki Moto.

Equatorial Guinea: Ovono, Evuy, Sipo Bohale, Rui, Ellong, Zarandona, Balboa, Kike, Randy, Fabiani, Nsue. Subs: Embela, Engonga, Juvenal, Ruben Belima, Bolado, Iban, Dario, Charly, Ganet, Mosibe.

Referee: Noumandiez Doue (Ivory Coast)

Congo: Mafoumbi, Bissiki, Bouka-Moutou, Francis N'Ganga, Baudry, Babele, Ndinga, Oniangue, Litsingi, Thievy, Dore. Subs: Massa, Igor N'Ganga, Moubhibo, Ganvoula, N'Guessi, Gandze, Douniama, Malonga Ntsayi, Malonga, Binguila, Mavoungou, Ndzila.

Burkina Faso: Sanou, Yago, Gouo, Koffi, Bakary Kone, Nakoulma, Kabore, Abdou Razak Traore, Djakaridja Kone, Pitroipa, Alain Traore. Subs: Fofana, Yedan, Rouamba, Koulibaly, Guira, Bambara, Balima, Bance, Zongo, Bertrand Traore, Ouedraogo, Soulama.

Referee: Joseph Lamptey (Ghana)