VIDEO: Burkina Faso Reach AFCON Quarters Finals
Ismahila Ouedraogo scored the decisive penalty kick as Burkina Faso beat Gabon 7-6 in a dramatic shoot-out to become the first team through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after Sunday's match in Limbe finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.
Gathogo Wanjiru Burkina Faso appeared to have the victory sewn up in normal time thanks to a first-half goal from captain Bertrand Traore, who had earlier missed a penalty.
Gabon were reduced to 10 men when center-back Sidney Obissa was dismissed midway through the second half, but they forced extra time as the unfortunate Adama Guira helped the ball into his own net in the first minute of added time.
After there was no scoring in the extra half-hour, penalties went all the way to sudden death and Lloyd Palun became the third Gabon player to miss his kick before Ouedraogo took the Stallions through.
The 2013 runners-up advance to a last-eight tie in Garoua next Saturday against the winner of Sunday's late tie between Nigeria and Tunisia.
Gabon go home after a tournament overshadowed by the early departures of star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and influential midfielder Mario Lemina.
The two players were sent home last week without having played a minute for Patrice Neveu's side at the tournament after testing positive for Covid-19.
Their exit here means the Panthers have still never won a knockout tie at the Cup of Nations, but they can be proud of the way they battled in adversity to force extra time and penalties after Obissa's red card.
Qualification is a huge boost for Burkina Faso as the West African state deals with a jihadist insurgency.
