Group A of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations was played from 17 January until 25 January in Equatorial Guinea. The group consisted of the hosts Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Congo. Congo and Equatorial Guinea advanced as group winners and runners-up respectively, while Gabon and Burkina Faso were eliminated.
Teams Draw position Team Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance CAF RankingsPoints FIFA RankingsStart of event A1 14 November 2014 2nd 2012 Quarter-finals (2012) 9 118 A2 Group C runners-up 15 November 2014 10th 2013 Runners-up (2013) 40 64 A3 Group C winners 15 November 2014 6th 2012 Quarter-finals (1996, 2012) 22 62 A4 Group A runners-up 19 November 2014 7th 2000 Winners (1972) 13 61
Notes
Standings
In the quarter-finals: Congo advanced to play DR Congo (runner-up of Group B). Equatorial Guinea advanced to play Tunisia (winner of Group B).
Matches All times local, WAT (UTC+1).
Equatorial Guinea vs Congo The first goal of the tournament was scored by Emilio Nsue. Receiving a through ball from Kike, he slotted the ball low past the goalkeeper with his right foot from six yards out to open the scoring for the hosts after 16 minutes. Thievy Bifouma scored the equalizer for Congo with three minutes left, after being played in by Dominique Malonga, he slotted it low into the net from the right of the six yard box.
GK 1 Felipe Ovono RB 22Pablo Ganet CB 5 Diosdado Mbele CB 4 RuiLB 16SipoRM 11Javier Balboa CM 21Iván ZarandonaCM 8 RandyLM 14Kike CF 15Ibán CF 10Emilio Nsue (c)Substitutions:MF 18Viera Ellong MF 7 Rubén Belima FW 12Iván Bolado Manager: Esteban Becker GK 1 Christoffer MafoumbiRB 2 Francis N'GangaCB 4 Boris Moubhibo CB 5 Arnold Bouka Moutou LB 18Marvin BaudryRM 21Sagesse BabéléCM 7 Prince Oniangué (c)CM 14Césaire Gandzé LM 8 Delvin N'DingaCF 10Férébory Doré CF 13Thievy BifoumaSubstitutions:FW 11Fabrice Ondama FW 15Ladislas Douniama FW 19Dominique Malonga Manager: Claude Le Roy Man of the Match: Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)
Assistant referees: Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon) Marwa Range (Kenya) Fourth official: Hamada Nampiandraza (Madagascar)
Burkina Faso vs Gabon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring in the 19th minute, as after his initial shot was saved, he collected the rebound and calmly slotted home from seven yards out with his right foot. Gabon sealed the win in the 72nd minute with Malick Evouna's header from Frédéric Bulot's cross.
GK 23Germain SanouRB 5 Mohamed KoffiCB 2 Steeve YagoCB 4 Bakary KonéLB 13Narcisse BambaraRM 19Bertrand TraoréCM 18Charles Kaboré (c)CM 6 Djakaridja Koné LM 17Jonathan Zongo CF 10Alain TraoréCF 11Jonathan PitroipaSubstitutions:FW 15Aristide Bancé MF 22Préjuce Nakoulma Manager: Paul Put GK 1 Didier OvonoRB 8 Lloyd PalunCB 5 Bruno Ecuele MangaCB 4 Yrondu Musavu-KingLB 6 Johann Obiang DM 11Lévy Madinda RM 22Didier Ibrahim N'Dong LM 17André Biyogo PokoAM 10Frédéric Bulot CF 7 Malick Evouna CF 9 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (c)Substitutions:MF 12Guélor Kanga MF 13Samson Mbingui FW 3 Johann Lengoualama Manager: Jorge Costa Man of the Match: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
Assistant referees: Angesom Ogbamariam (Eritrea) Zakhele Thusi Siwela (South Africa) Fourth official: Med Said Kordi (Tunisia)
Equatorial Guinea vs Burkina Faso In the first goalless draw of the tournament, Burkina Faso hit the post twice, first through a free kick by Alain Traoré, then later when his shot was tipped to the post by Felipe Ovono.
GK 1 Felipe OvonoRB 8 RandyCB 5 Diosdado Mbele CB 4 RuiLB 16SipoDM 21Iván ZarandonaRM 14Kike CM 18Viera EllongCM 11Javier Balboa LM 15Ibán CF 10Emilio Nsue (c)Substitutions:MF 6 Juvenal FW 12Iván Bolado FW 9 Raúl Fabiani Manager: Esteban Becker GK 23Germain SanouRB 5 Mohamed KoffiCB 4 Bakary KonéCB 2 Steeve YagoLB 9 Issa Gouo DM 6 Djakaridja KonéCM 18Charles Kaboré (c)RW 11Jonathan Pitroipa AM 10Alain TraoréLW 19Bertrand TraoréCF 15Aristide BancéSubstitutions:MF 22Préjuce Nakoulma Manager: Paul Put Man of the Match: Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)
Assistant referees: Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon) Ali Waleed Ahmed (Sudan) Fourth official: Mohamed Said Kordi (Tunisia)
Gabon vs Congo Congo secured their first win in the Africa Cup of Nations since 1974, as Prince Oniangué scored the only goal in the 48th minute after the Gabon defence failed to clear a corner.
GK 1 Didier OvonoRB 8 Lloyd PalunCB 5 Bruno Ecuele MangaCB 2 Aaron AppindangoyéLB 6 Johann ObiangDM 11Lévy Madinda RM 22Didier Ibrahim N'Dong LM 17André Biyogo Poko AM 10Frédéric Bulot CF 7 Malick EvounaCF 9 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (c)Substitutions:MF 12Guélor Kanga MF 13Samson Mbingui FW 3 Johann Lengoualama Manager: Jorge Costa GK 1 Christoffer MafoumbiRB 18Marvin BaudryCB 21Sagesse BabéléCB 4 Boris Moubhibo LB 6 Dimitri BissikiRM 14Césaire Gandzé CM 8 Delvin N'DingaCM 7 Prince Oniangué (c)LM 5 Arnold Bouka Moutou CF 13Thievy BifoumaCF 10Férébory Doré Substitutions:FW 11Fabrice Ondama MF 17Chris Malonga DF 2 Francis N'Ganga Manager: Claude Le Roy Man of the Match: Prince Oniangué (Congo)
Assistant referees: Peter Edibe (Nigeria) Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer (Egypt) Fourth official: Gehad Grisha (Egypt)
Gabon vs Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea took the lead in the 55th minute through Javier Balboa's penalty, awarded after he was brought down by Lloyd Palun. They sealed the win in the 86th minute, as Ibán converted the rebound after Emilio Nsue's shot was saved, confirming their qualification to the knockout stage and eliminating Gabon.
GK 1 Didier OvonoRB 8 Lloyd Palun CB 5 Bruno Ecuele MangaCB 2 Aaron AppindangoyéLB 6 Johann Obiang DM 11Lévy MadindaRM 12Guélor Kanga LM 17André Biyogo Poko AM 10Frédéric BulotCF 7 Malick EvounaCF 9 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (c)Substitutions:MF 22Didier Ibrahim N'Dong FW 21Romaric Rogombé FW 3 Johann Lengoualama Manager: Jorge Costa GK 1 Felipe OvonoRB 8 Randy CB 2 Dani EvuyCB 4 RuiLB 16SipoRM 14Kike CM 18Viera EllongCM 21Iván Zarandona LM 11Javier BalboaCF 10Emilio Nsue (c) CF 9 Raúl Fabiani Substitutions:MF 15Ibán MF 6 Juvenal FW 17Rubén Darío Manager: Esteban Becker
Man of the Match: Javier Balboa (Equatorial Guinea)
Assistant referees: Djibril Camara (Senegal) Aboubacar Doumbouya (Guinea) Fourth official: Bernard Camille (Seychelles)
Congo vs Burkina Faso Congo took the lead in the 51st minute, when Férébory Doré crossed for Thievy Bifouma to convert from close range. Burkina Faso equalized in the 86th minute, after Aristide Bancé scored from Issiaka Ouédraogo's cross, but Congo retook the lead one minute later, as from a Congo free kick, Burkina Faso goalkeeper Germain Sanou punched the ball and it hit Fabrice Ondama and went into the net. As a result, Congo qualified as group winners while Burkina Faso were eliminated.
GK 1 Christoffer MafoumbiRB 18Marvin BaudryCB 21Sagesse BabéléCB 2 Francis N'GangaLB 6 Dimitri BissikiDM 8 Delvin N'DingaRM 5 Arnold Bouka MoutouCM 7 Prince Oniangué (c)LM 12Francis Litsingi CF 13Thievy Bifouma CF 10Férébory Doré Substitutions:FW 15Ladislas Douniama FW 11Fabrice Ondama MF 14Césaire Gandzé Manager: Claude Le Roy GK 23Germain SanouRB 5 Mohamed KoffiCB 4 Bakary KonéCB 2 Steeve YagoLB 9 Issa Gouo CM 18Charles Kaboré (c)CM 10Alain TraoréCM 6 Djakaridja KonéRW 22Préjuce Nakoulma LW 11Jonathan PitroipaCF 21Abdou Traoré Substitutions:MF 19Bertrand Traoré FW 15Aristide Bancé FW 20Issiaka Ouédraogo Manager: Paul Put
Man of the Match: Fabrice Ondama (Congo)
Assistant referees: El Hadji Malick Samba (Senegal) Oamogetse Godisamang (Botswana) Fourth official: Victor Gomes (South Africa)
References
External links Orange Africa Cup Of Nations, Equatorial Guinea 2015, CAFonline.com