Burkina Faso vs Gabon Predictions

• Burkina Faso have drawn three of their last six internationals.
• Gabon have drawn three of their last four internationals, including two of their group games at AFCON.
• Gabon have drawn five of their last six matches at AFCON Finals.

Draw a distinct possibility in Limbe

No matter how you view Sunday’s opening last-16 match at AFCON 2021, the draw must be a big runner in the eventual outcome of the 90 minutes in Limbe.  Group A runners up Burkina Faso drew their last match against Ethiopia 1-1 – in the knowledge it was good enough to secure their passage – showing an inability to put away an inferior side.

The performance levels of the Stallions have arguably subsided over the course of the tournament so far after initially stunning hosts Cameroon by taking the lead in the opening match. It’s hard to escape the notion that Kamou Malo’s men may have peaked too soon.

They trounced Gabon 3-0 in Dubai in a pre-tournament warm-up victory over the Panthers in Dubai, but their spirited opponents have had a lot to endure and appear to have grown as a team since then.

Panthers’ persistence can rein in Stallions

Whether or not star turns Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina wanted to ever be in Cameroon, they have left the camp for good now and the team have forged a new identity without them. Gabon have caused problems in every game and looked good for a win in their final group match until Ashraf Hakimi’s stunning late free-kick forced a 2-2 draw.

The Panthers are draw specialists at the moment with five stalemates in their last six AFCON Finals contests and this has the makings of another because they work hard, have belief in the coach’s tactics and never give up.

A 1-1 outcome is favoured here over the next realistic option – 0-0 – because both teams have scored in each of their three games in Cameroon so far.

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