Hosts Equatorial Guinea scored two second-half goals on Sunday to beat Gabon 2-0 and qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations along with Gabon, who downed Burkina Faso 2-1.Only at the tournament after agreeing to host following Morocco's withdrawal, Equatorial Guinea go through to the knockout stages after a terrific second-half display against a good Gabon side.Congo were late winners against Burkina Faso and claimed a second victory of the tournament to top Group A.Here are the latest results and updated groups after play on Day 9:Gabon 0-2 Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea recovered from a sluggish first-half performance to score twice after the break and send themselves through to the knockout stages at the expense of Gabon.The hosts were indebted to goalkeeperFelipe Ovono, whose saves kept them in the matcha Javier Balboa penalty andlateIban Edu goal eventually ensuring the crucial victory.Equatorial Guinea needed a win in Bata to see themselves through to the knockout rounds, having claimed only a pair of draws from their opening two matches against Burkina Faso and Congo.However, it was Gabon who had by far the better chances of the first half, forcingOvono into two top saves.In the 22nd minute,Frederic Bulot chipped up an inviting cross from the left which was met powerfully in the box byPierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Ovono parried it away well.Bulot was involved again just before the half-hour as he played a one-two with Malick Evouna before forcing another decent stop fromOvono.Ovono again was forced into two saves early in the second half as he tippedfree-kicks fromAubameyang and Bulot over the bar as Gabon looked to inflict the killer blow, per SandalsForGoalposts:And the keeper's form was eventually handsomely rewarded as Equatorial Guinea were handed a penalty and the chance to take the lead in the 53rd minute.Balboa burst into the box after a clever one-two and was challenged by Lloyd Palun, the referee awarding a legitimate penalty despite the winger's theatrical fall, per African football expert Jonathan Wilson:Balboa himself stepped up to fire the spot-kick into the corner to the delight of the Bata crowd.With Gabon now needing a goal to stay in the competition, they inevitably piled forward but could not find the equaliser.Balboa could have wrapped things up for the hosts with a quarter of an hour remaining as he found himself in acres of space in the box, butDidier Ovono saved well with his legs.In an extraordinary climax, Equatorial Guinea did indeed claim a vital second, Iban slotting home a parried Emilio Nsueshot to send the stadium into delirious celebrations.Congo 2-1 Burkina FasoCongo were able to suppress a late Burkina Faso rally to claim victory in their final group match on Sunday and qualify for the quarter-finals, with the Stallions heading home.Thievy Bifouma opened the scoring just after half-time to put Congo in control withFabrice Ondama then netting very late on after Aristide Bance had equalised forBurkina Faso.Burkina Faso were not only looking for their first win of the tournament against Congo, but also their first goal after a 2-0 loss to Gabon and a 0-0 draw withEquatorial Guinea saw them rooted to the bottom of Group A.The Stallions started well asJonathan Pitroipa carved out two half chances, but it was Congo who had the best chance of the first half.Delvin N'Dinga played inBifouma on the left of the area midway through the first hold, but the striker pulled his shot wide of the post.Congo then dealt a heavy blow early in the second half as they took a 1-0 lead,Ferebory Dore cantering down the right and squaring the ball forBifouma to send home from close range, per Football News Alert:With Burkina Faso needing a victory they desperately looked to attack but failed to find even a legitimate chance until deep into the second half.Bance then slotted home from three yards after a brilliant cross fromIssiaka Ouedraogo, but it all seemed too little, too late.And Congo retook the lead moments later in comedic fashion after a poor Germain Sanou punch fromN'Dinga's free-kick bounced offOndama and looped into the net.Congo were deserved winners and top Group A having also beaten Gabon, butBurkina Faso simply were not clinical enough throughout the tournament to warrant qualification to the quarter-finals.Read more World Football news on BleacherReport.com
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