Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Had a DAY | OneFootball

In last night’s CAF qualifying article, I called out LAFC’s Denis Bouanga as being the man to watch in this morning’s Gambia vs. Gabon match. Two things happened as a result of that.

Wound Up

You could tell Aubameyang was fired up from the opening whistle. He put in a pair of robust challenges within the first fifteen minutes, and was caught on camera having what we shall call a pointed debate with the referee at 17 minutes, complete with finger wagging. Two minutes later, poor Gambian defending allowed a through-ball that Aubameyang touched once before firing it into the net.

See-Saw Game

After that opening goal, it took Gambia three minutes to find the equalizer from a Yakuba Minteh strike to the far corner off the long ball. Suddenly it was game on, as both sides eschewed any pretense of midfield possession and going for goal at every opportunity. Over a dozen shots, and nearly as many crosses into the box, flew in from either side, but goals would have to wait until the waning minutes.

Once again, it was Aubameyang taking advantage of that Gambian backline. He timed a perfect run onto a long pass from goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba before slotting it home with a first-time outside-the-right-foot strike. Brutal. Gambia would not be denied, however, as Adama Sidibeh would squeeze the ball into the net from an impossible angle seconds before halftime.

The Gambia flipped the script two minutes into the second half when a Sidibeh header crossed over the line. Now it was Gabon chasing the game. “No problem,” said Aubameyang, “If Sidibeh can do it, so can I.” He then proceeded to head in the equalizer in the 62nd minute after once again getting in behind the Gambian defense. Of course, when he received the ball on the right side of the box 13 minutes later with nothing but goal in front of him, Aubameyang coolly hammered it home to give his side the lead.

Seeing Red

Now up by one, Gabon had to curtail Gambia’s attack. Once again, Aubameyang took on the mantle of team leader, becoming a bit too fervent in his eagerness to deny the opposition any time on the ball. He earned a yellow card a scant minute after scoring for a rash challenge, then followed that up with a second yellow in the 85th. He had to head to the showers early, and watch the remaining minutes on the monitor.

Result

With that 4 – 3 win, Gabon remain one point behind the Ivory Coast, who smashed Seychelles 7 – 0 and still have yet to concede a goal in qualifying. Now it all comes down to the final group stage games. Will Ivory Coast trip up against Kenya? And can Gabon seal the deal against Burundi. Both matches will be played Tuesday, Oct. 14th,