Republic of Congo, spurred by Le Roy, emerge as Africa Cup of Nations surprise

Prince Oniangue fired Republic of Congo into a shock win over Gabon on Wednesday at the Africa Cup of Nations to put them in position to advance to the quarter-finals.

Republic of Congo midfielder Prince Oniangue, right, celebrates after scoring the lone, winning goal against Gabon on Wednesday night in the Africa Cup of Nations. Carl de Souza / AFP / January 21, 20Show more

Republic of Congo celebrated a historic night at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday while 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso saw their hopes of reaching the last eight seriously compromised.

Congo claimed their first win at the finals in more than four decades, beating Gabon 1-0 thanks to a Prince Oniangue goal to close in on qualification for the last eight from Group A.

Earlier, in the same group, hosts Equatorial Guinea held the Stallions of Burkina Faso to a 0-0 draw to leave both sides’ hopes in the balance.

It was a disappointing evening for Gabon, who knew that a win against Claude Le Roy’s Congo would take them through to the quarter-finals with a match to spare but who were left to rue profligate finishing.

Frederic Bulot came closest to giving Gabon the lead from an early volley that was turned over the bar by Christoffer Mafoumbi in the Congo goal.

Congo managed to hold on until the interval and then got the breakthrough three minutes after the restart when Oniangue pounced to score after the Gabon defence failed to clear a corner.

And Gabon squandered a glorious chance to level the scores midway through the second half as Bulot, of English side Charlton Athletic, somehow sent the ball wide of the post with the goal gaping.

Congo held on for their first win at the Cup of Nations since their run to the semi-finals in Egypt in 1974, leaving their veteran French coach Le Roy to heap praise on his players.

“I have practically never had a team that works so well tactically, even if we are lacking in certain areas,” said Le Roy, who is appearing at his eighth Cup of Nations as a coach.

His side now need just a point against Burkina Faso in their last group game on Sunday to secure a place in the quarter-finals, but Le Roy insists they will go out to win.

“I was a striker and I am the worst coach in the world at playing for a draw. If we go out looking for a draw, I should be sacked right away.”

Meanwhile, a rueful Gabon coach Jorge Costa said: “We had chances in the first half but the luck we had against Burkina Faso we did not have today.”

Burkina Faso’s 2-0 defeat against Gabon on Saturday came after they failed to convert the chances that came their way and they were left to once again regret an inability to put the ball in the net against the tournament hosts.

Burkina Faso had the better of the first game of the day but could not find a way past the home defence, although Alain Traore saw a first-half free-kick strike the post and had another attempt turned onto the woodwork by goalkeeper Felipe Ovono before the interval.

“Our problem is finishing, I can’t understand. We created lots of chances. Equatorial Guinea did not have as many,” said Belgian coach Paul Put.

“I don’t know if we are lacking confidence or if it is just bad luck.”

Their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage now depend on them beating Congo in Ebebiyin on Sunday, while Equatorial Guinea face a winners-take-all showdown with Gabon in Bata.

“I’m not just satisfied, I’m very satisfied. I’m very proud of this young team,” said the Nzalang Nacional’s Argentine coach Esteban Becker.

In other news on Wednesday, Ivory Coast star Gervinho was handed a two-match ban following his red card in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Guinea in Malabo in Group D.

The AS Roma player was dismissed for hitting out at Naby Keita in the second half of the match and will now only feature again at the tournament if Ivory Coast reach the quarter-finals.

On Thursday the action moves to Group B, where Tunisia face Zambia and Cape Verde take on DR Congo in Ebebiyin.

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