“Denis Bouanga is booked for simulation right before halftime, a moment that added some needed spice to an otherwise cagey first period.”
“Rody Effaghe breaks the deadlock for Gabon, converting a free-kick situation with a left-footed shot into the top left corner after Niger conceded a foul in a dangerous area.”
Pivotal“Denis Bouanga doubles Gabon's lead, finishing from the left side of the box after being teed up by Guélor Kanga following a Niger free kick that failed to relieve pressure.”
Pivotal
Gabon
Niger
Gabon controlled the game from the outset, racking up 64% possession and doubling Niger's passing output, but it took until the 53rd minute for that dominance to translate into a goal when Rody Effaghe converted a set piece with a left-footed strike into the top corner. Niger, to their credit, matched Gabon in dangerous attacks and actually out-shot the hosts, showing they weren't there to simply sit back, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third proved costly. Denis Bouanga sealed the points in the 77th minute, latching onto a Guélor Kanga assist to slot home from the left side of the box after Niger failed to clear a set-piece situation. With this win, Gabon strengthens their qualifying campaign and keeps their form intact, while Niger will need to find more efficiency in front of goal in their remaining fixtures to salvage their own qualification hopes.
How entertaining was this match?
Niger is awarded a corner after Didier Ndong concedes.
Foul committed by Orphé Mbina of Gabon.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 4 minutes of added time.
Oumar Sako from Niger wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Teddy Averlant from Gabon is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mohamed Wonkoye of Niger.
Niger concedes a corner, taken by Michel Mboula.
Aboubacar Camara from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Denis Bouanga commits a foul for Gabon.
Daniel Sosah's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Mamane Sabo provided the assist with a cross.
Offside called against Gabon. Denis Bouanga is caught offside.
Foul committed by Aboubacar Camara of Niger.
Jacques Ekomié from Gabon is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution for Gabon: Orphé Mbina comes on for Rody Effaghe.
Substitution for Niger: Mamane Sabo comes on for Ousseini Badamassi.
Victorien Adebayor from Niger misses the attempt with a left-footed shot from over 35 yards, sending it high and wide to the right. He was assisted by Aboubacar Camara.
assist: Guélor Kanga
Goal! Gabon leads 2-0 against Niger. Denis Bouanga scores for Gabon with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box to the center of the goal, assisted by Guélor Kanga.
Foul committed by Rody Effaghe of Gabon.
Mohamed Abdouramane from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Aboubacar Camara from Niger misses the attempt with a right-footed shot from over 35 yards, sending it too high after a corner.
Substitution for Gabon: Anthony Oyono comes on for Jérémy Oyono.
Niger concedes a corner, taken by Michel Mboula.
Attempt missed. Daniel Sosah from Niger takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes to the right.
Substitution for Niger: Victorien Adebayor comes on for Kairou Amoustapha.
Ousseini Badamassi from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Guélor Kanga of Gabon.
Kairou Amoustapha of Niger is caught offside.
Mohamed Wonkoye from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Shavy Babicka of Gabon.
Substitution for Gabon: Henrick Do Marcolino comes on for Shavy Babicka.
Offside called against Niger. Kairou Amoustapha is the player caught offside.
Guélor Kanga from Gabon is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Ousseini Badamassi of Niger.
Foul committed by Jacques Ekomié from Gabon.
Aboubacar Camara from Niger wins a free kick on the right wing.
Mohamed Wonkoye from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Denis Bouanga of Gabon commits a foul.
Denis Bouanga commits a foul for Gabon.
Kairou Amoustapha of Niger is caught offside.
Aboubacar Camara from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Mohamed Abdouramane from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Shavy Babicka of Gabon.
Guélor Kanga from Gabon wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mohamed Abdouramane of Niger.
Jean-Noël Amonome from Gabon wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Kairou Amoustapha from Niger.
Corner awarded to Niger after a concession by Alex Moucketou-Moussounda.
Michel Mboula's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Goal! Gabon leads 1-0 against Niger. Rody Effaghe scores for Gabon with a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the top left corner after a set piece.
Foul committed by Mohamed Wonkoye of Niger.
Jérémy Oyono of Gabon is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Mohamed Wonkoye from Niger.
Jérémy Oyono from Gabon is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner awarded to Niger after Denis Bouanga concedes.
Mohamed Abdouramane from Niger wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Shavy Babicka of Gabon.
The second half begins with the score at Gabon 0, Niger 0.
Substitution for Gabon: Teddy Averlant comes on for André Poko.
Substitution for Niger: Mohamed Wonkoye comes on for Amadou Moutari.
The first half ends with Gabon and Niger tied at 0-0.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 1 minute of added time.
Foul committed by Rahim Alhassane of Niger.
Shavy Babicka from Gabon is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Amadou Moutari from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Jérémy Oyono of Gabon.
Denis Bouanga from Gabon commits a foul.
Foul committed by Ousseini Badamassi from Niger.
Michel Mboula from Gabon wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Youssouf Oumarou from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Guélor Kanga from Gabon wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Youssouf OumarouYellow CardYoussouf Oumarou from Niger receives a yellow card for a foul.
Foul committed by Youssouf Oumarou of Niger.
Attempt saved. Daniel Sosah from Niger has his right-footed shot from a tough angle on the right saved in the bottom right corner by Jean-Noël Amonome from Gabon. The attempt was assisted by Ali Muhammad.
Corner awarded to Niger after a concession by Jean-Noël Amonome.
Attempt missed. Ali Muhammad from Niger takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes too high. Oumar Sako provided the assist with a headed pass after a corner.
Denis BouangaYellow CardDenis Bouanga from Gabon receives a yellow card.
Denis Bouanga from Gabon has fallen to the ground, but the referee considers it to be simulation.
Denis Bouanga from Gabon misses an attempt with a right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box, sending the ball to the right. He was assisted by Michel Mboula.
Gabon wins a corner after Mahamadou Tanja concedes.
Jacques Ekomié from Gabon is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Daniel Sosah of Niger.
Corner awarded to Niger after Alex Moucketou-Moussounda concedes.
Oumar Sako from Niger misses a header from the center of the box to the right. He was assisted by Rahim Alhassane, who delivered a cross after a corner.
André Poko from Gabon is penalized for dangerous play.
Oumar Sako from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Niger concedes a corner, taken by Michel Mboula.
Denis Bouanga of Gabon is caught offside.
Foul committed by Ali Muhammad of Niger.
Didier Ndong wins a free kick for Gabon in the defensive half.
Ousseini Badamassi from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Michel Mboula of Gabon.
Denis Bouanga's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the center of the goal by Mahamadou Tanja. Rody Effaghe provided the assist.
Daniel Sosah from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Jérémy Oyono of Gabon.
Aboubacar Camara from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Jacques Ekomié of Gabon.
Foul committed by Kairou Amoustapha of Niger.
Jacques Ekomié from Gabon is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Kairou AmoustaphaYellow CardKairou Amoustapha from Niger receives a yellow card for a foul.
Guélor Kanga from Gabon is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Youssouf Oumarou from Niger.
Denis Bouanga from Gabon has a right-footed shot from the left side of the box that is close but misses to the left after a corner.
Gabon wins a corner after Oumar Sako concedes.
Youssouf Oumarou from Niger attempts a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it misses to the left.
Gabon wins a corner after Mohamed Abdouramane concedes.
Didier Ndong commits a foul for Gabon.
Ousseini Badamassi from Niger is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Delay in the match in Gabon.
Foul committed by Guélor Kanga of Gabon.
Rahim Alhassane from Niger is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Ousseini Badamassi of Niger.
Jacques Ekomié from Gabon is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Offside called against Niger. Daniel Sosah is caught offside.
First half begins.
Gabon return home under pressure after a chastening 2-0 opening defeat to Morocco, needing a reaction against a confident Niger side buoyed by their win over Lesotho. With Niger sitting second and level on points with the group's early pace-setters, Franceville hosts a genuine early-season litmus test for Sébastien Migné's rebuilding project.
