#TotalEnergies AFCON: The Stallions against the Panthers for a quarterfinal ticket
First knockout game at the biggest continental football tournament, AFCON 2021 will be fiercely contested between the Stallions of Burkina Faso and the Panthers of Gabon at the 20000-seater Limbe Omnisport Stadium this Sunday, January 23, 2022.
Burkina Faso finished second after recording a 1-0 win over Cape Verde , an all one tie with Ethiopia and fell to a 2-1 defeat from host Cameroon in Group A to be able to sail through to the last round of 16 at the football jamboree.
The Panthers of Gabon ended up at the second position after Morocco in Group C. Gabon played her first group game with against Comoros, a match that ended 1-0 in favour of the panthers.
On day-2, the boys of Patrice Neveu played a draw game with the Black Stars of Ghana and shared 2-2 spoils with the Atlas Lions of Morocco on the last group game before getting a ticket in the next round of the games.
Infact, the clash to produce fireworks will be the first ever out of the AFCON group games between the two fierce rivals. In 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon faced off Burkina in a clash that ended 2-0 in favour of the Panthers.
The Panthers levelled scores with the Stallions of Burkina Faso 1-1 in 2017 in Gabon at the AFCON. Here, Burkina Faso proved a better bet and ended up as the third best team in the continent after Egypt and Cameroon.
The last time the two teams clashed was on January 2, 2022 in a friendly game, the Stallions of Burkina Faso humbled the Panthers of Gabon to a 3-0 win.
The will be meeting this Sunday, January 23 in a very decisive match before an amazing crowd at the seaside town of Limbe. Ahead of this, the two coaches were infront of the press men and women earlier this January 22 to talk about the level of preparedness in the teams, the tactical formations and their goals.
Patrice Neveu of Gabon things he is a better side and need not to be afraid “Fear is not on our side, We have played against big teams. Fear does not move me not the players.
The former Coach of the Black Stars of Ghana noted that they are aware of the importance of the importance of the match to the team and to Gabon as country.
By his side was Defender Edmond Tapsoba who says that he and his teammates will give in everything during the 90minutes to win the game.
Ramou Malo of Burkina Faso on his part said their objective was to reach the knockout stage and even sail further in the tournament.
His player, Alex Mouketou Moussounda told the press that there is calm and serenity in the camp ahead of the hostility with Gabon
Benly Anchunda in Limbe
