#AFCON2017: Guinea-Bissau Deny Hosts Gabon; Burkina-Faso hold Cameroon

LIBREVILLE, GABON – JANUARY 14: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon celebrates scoring a goal with his team mates during the Africa Cup of Nations 2017 match between Gabon and Guinea-Bissau at the De l’Amitie Stadium in Libreville, Gabon on January 14, 2017. 

Guinea-Bissau made a memorable start to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday as a late Juary Soares equaliser saw them hold hosts Gabon to a 1-1 draw.

According to CAF website reports, Soares headed home for the tournament debutants in the 90th minute of the 16-team championship’s opening game.

His goal cancelled out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener in the Group ‘A’ game at the Stade de l’Amitie in the Gabonese capital city of Libreville.

The final whistle was greeted with jeers from the home supporters but there was delight for Guinea-Bissau, for whom just being at the tournament is a remarkable achievement.

Four-time winners Cameroon, who have been hit by a raft of withdrawals, were also held to a 1-1 draw by 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso at the same venue.

The result placed all four teams in the group at par with one point each after the opening round of games.

After an opening ceremony in which French rapper Booba was the star turn, Gabonese President, Ali Bongo declared the tournament officially open.

Bongo was accompanied by his counterpart from Guinea-Bissau, Jose Vaz, and Issa Hayatou, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), at the 40,000-capacity stadium.

Photo Credit: Olivier Ebanga/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images