The knockout stage of the ongoing 2021 AFCON commences on Sunday, as Burkina Faso take on Gabon in the opening fixture of the round of 16, at the Limbe Stadium with kickoff at 19:00.
Burkina Faso managed to qualify to the last 16 as runners up in Group A of the competition with four points on board to their name, some three points behind Cameroon. They opened the competition with a 2-1 defeat to tournament hosts Cameroon before bouncing back with a hard fought 1-0 win against Cape Verde in their second match.
They then closed the group stage with a 1-1 draw with group trailers Ethiopia, with the draw leaving them in the second place level on four points with the third-placed Cape Verde who qualified as a third-best side.
They will be looking to keep on going in the competition but they face a side they haven’t bettered in their last four encounters.
Meanwhile Gabon also made it to the round of 16 as runners up in Group C of the competitions, putting five points on the board after claiming one win and two draws in the group.
They opened the competition on a victorious note notching Comoros 1-0, before claiming a 1-1 draw against Ghana in the following match then closed the group stage with a 2-2 draw against group leaders Morocco.
They will also be looking to go further up the competition and they will be confident heading into match considering their draws against two Africa heavy weights and as mentioned earlier Gabon have not lost to their Sunday opponents in their last four encounters, claiming two wins and two draws in the run.
Although, considering the occasion we predict a close affair that might be decided in a penalty shootout.
Burkina Faso vs Gabon head to head
Both sides have met in six encounters since 2012 with Gabon claiming three victories, while Burkina Faso have claimed one victory and there have been two draws.
- Gabon 1-1 Burkina Faso 18/01/17
- Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon 17/01/15
- Burkina Faso 1-1 Gabon 15/10/14
- Gabon 2-0 Burkina Faso 11/10/14
- Burkina Faso 1-0 Gabon 07/09/13
Home
- Burkina Faso 1-1 Ethiopia
- Cape Verde 0-1 Burkina Faso
- Cameroon 2-1 Burkina Faso
- Algeria 1-1 Burkina Faso
- Burkina Faso 1-1 Niger
Away
- Gabon 2-2 Morocco
- Gabon 1-1 Ghana
- Comoros 0-1 Gabon
- Egypt 2-1 Gabon
- Gabon 1-0 Libya
Burkina Faso team news
Burkina Faso have no injury or suspensions concerns ahead of the clash.
Gabon team news
Gabon will be without the services of star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has now withdrawn from the tournament and returned to Arsenal after a health issue.
Prediction and odds
- Draw at 90
- Goals under 2.5
- The game to end on penalties
