AFCON: Gabon beat Tunisia to top group

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was helped by a goalkeeping blunder as co-hosts Gabon beat Tunisia 1-0 to top African Cup of Nations Group C, probably avoiding a quarter-final clash with Ghana.

On a humid night in Libreville, the St Etienne forward took a weak shot straight at reserve Tunisia keeper Rami Jridi on 65 minutes, who let the ball fly through him having been poor all night.

The result means Gabon top the group with a 100 per cent record and will face the runner-up in Group D, likely to be either Mali or Guinea.

Tunisia paid the price for making eight chances and should face Ghana, one of the pre-tournament favourites and arguably Africa's form team over the past few years. Ghana could only come second in their group if they lost to Guinea.

Both sides had already qualified although - with Gabon leading the group on goals scored - there was incentive for both sides to avoid the Black Stars in the quarters.

It was therefore no surprise when Tunisia started the first half promisingly, probing the hosts and going close through Saber Khelifa, who hit the side netting after a mazy run before later forcing a block from Bruno Ecuele Manga, and Aymen Abdennour, who headed wide from a corner.

But they appeared to lose interest at the midway point of the half, with the match degenerating into a bit of a dirge: the closest anyone came to an opening was some high balls from Gabon that caused problems for stand-in keeper Rami Jridi as the co-hosts looked the livelier.

Indeed the highlight was an ongoing tug-of-war between Daniel Cousin and Abdennour, both players getting away with some clear fouls and constant tete-a-tetes, the referee almost as disinterested as both sets of players in their antics.

Qualifying top-scorer Issam Jemaa - who earlier in the day sealed a deadline-busting loan move from Auxerre to Brest - was toiling somewhat, looking a touch short of fitness on his first start of a tournament he begun injured.

Gabon started the second half well though, rampaging full-back Edmond Muele seeing a shot deflected wide and shaky Tunisia keeper Jridi palming over as Lloyd Palun flew in for a header.

So when they did take the lead it was, on the balance of play, deserved - although Aubameyang should not have been allowed to score on several fronts.

Sloppy play from Tunisia's midfield allowed Cousin to slide the ball in for Aubameyang - his first touch was poor but the Tunisian defence gave him enough space to shoot anyway, his drive straight at Jridi who capped his incompetent display by letting it through his body.

That pepped up the home fans somewhat, with the Gabon players responding to the cheers as another weak effort from Aubameyang was spilled by Jridi, who also failed to hang on to another daisy-cutter but was not punished by Cousin.

Tunisia made some changes, introducing first-teamers Yassine Chikhaoui and Sami Allagui, but aside from a deflected long-range effort from Bilel Ifaa that keeper Didier Ovono did well to save and a very late chance that Abdennour scuffed after a corner, there was little created of note as Gabon closed out their first win over the North Africans.