Goals from Javier Balboa and Ivan Salvador ensured host nation Equatorial Guinea reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, beating Gabon 2-0 in Bata. In the 53rd minute, Balboa exploded into the danger area after making a gliding run past a defender and he was tripped on his way through by Lloyd Palun. Balboa got up and took the penalty himself and blasted the ball past Didier Ovono to open the scoring. The hosts found their second goal in the 86th minute through substitute Ivan Salvador who popped up to net the rebound after Emilio Nsue’s shot was saved following a cross by Balboa. Salvador netted from close range to eliminate Gabon. At the end of the game, the supporters erupted as the host nation celebrated reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 1992. Meanwhile, second-half goals from Thievy Bifouma and Fabrice Ondama secured a 2-1 win for Congo over Burkina Faso at the Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín. Congo did open the scoring on the night with 51 minutes on the clock. Fode Dore broke down the right flank before picking out Bifouma who made no mistake from close range to net his second goal of the tournament. Aristide Bance gave Burkina Faso some hope with four minutes remaining, tapping in Issaka Ouedraogo’s cross to set-up a tense finale. Congo though hit straight back through Fabrice Ondama who knew nothing about it as Germain Sanou’s attempted clearance rebounded off the Congolese striker who secured all three points. The win sees the Red Devils progress to the knockout stages as Group A winners while the 2013 Afcon runners-up bow out having only accumulated one point.
