#AFCON2017: Aubameyang scores as Gabon held by Burkina Faso

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon is fouled by Herve Koffi of Burkina Faso resulting in penalty during the 2017 African Cup of Nations. Photo: Gavin Barker/EPA

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon is fouled by Herve Koffi of Burkina Faso resulting in penalty during the 2017 African Cup of Nations. Photo: Gavin Barker/EPA

Published Jan 18, 2017

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Gabon (1)1

Aubameyang 38 pen

Burkina Faso (1)1

Nakoulma 33

Stade de l’Amitie, Gabon - At Borrusia Dortmund Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has celebrated his goals by wearing superhero masks. He doesn’t wear the entire costume, just the mask, because he has good side-kicks who have propelled him to hit the back of the net regularly in the Bundesliga and not have to worry about anything else.

But with Gabon, he has to wear the entire costume with a cape that hides underneath his No. 9 that was even worn by the First Lady, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). 

Aubameyang rescued his country from a potential defeat on Wednesday night against the Stallions. The point Gabon got wasn’t what they needed, after a poor start having been held by Afcon debutants Guinea-Bissau. That point does however keep their chances of reaching the last eight alive.

The Stallions, who also have two points from their opening two matches, are in the same situation as Gabon. Their passage to the last eight is in their hands. They will be hoping that their own superhero, Jonathan Pitroipa, is there to take them to the knockout stage.

Pitroipa joined Abdul Rahman Baba of Ghana and Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona in the list of unfortunate players to pick up serious injuries in the first half of this tournament. 

The entire Burkina Faso bench rushed to Pitroipa’s side after he was stretched off the field to see how bad the injury was. It proved too serious. Prejuce Nakoulma replaced the forward who was distraught as he was taken to the change room in a stretcher.

Nakoulma was quick to console his countrymen as he put Burkina Faso ahead. The 29-year-old pick-pocketed the ball from Johann Obiang, went on a surging run and managed to put it past Didier Ovono in goal despite two defenders harassing him. Nakoulma ran to embrace Pitroipa on the bench.

Obiang on the other hand didn’t find such comforts. His own fans booed him after he fell down injured. Benjamin Ze Ondo came on to replace Obiang whose day went from bad to worse. Gabon needed a hero.

Aubameyang responded to the call as he always has. His lightning-fast pace saw him blitz into a good scoring chance that was stopped illegally inside the box by goalkeeper Herve Koffi. Africa’s Referee of the Year, Bakary Papa Gassama, awarded the penalty. There wasn’t even a discussion among the Gabonese players about who is going to take it.

Aubameyang took the ball, gingerly walked into the penalty spot and put the Panthers back into this match. The mood completely changed inside this venue, sending the home fans into a frenzy as they shouted Emerick. Aubameyang thrives under the spotlight. But when it’s not shone on him he disappears, even when he has to be there to pick up the team as the captain.

He doesn’t talk much on the field. He might be his country’s talisman, but he is not the leader they need. Because of their inexperience at this stage, with the core of this group of players having never successfully managed to qualify for a major tournament through their football abilities, they are also in desperate need of a leader. They don’t only need someone who will fix their broken ship but also steady it when it hits rough seas. If they don’t get that leader, their match against Cameroon here on Sunday could be their last in this tournament.

Njabulo Ngidi is in Gabon courtesy of Supersport

@NJABULON

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