Live Commentary: Gabon 0-1 Congo - as it happened

Good evening! The second of today's matches in Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in half an hour, with Gabon able to secure their place at the top of the group with victory over Congo this evening.

With Equatorial Guinea only picking up a point from their goalless draw with Burkina Faso this evening, victory would make Gabon the first side to book a spot in the last eight. Congo will be keen to secure a win though, as the other two sides are both without a victory so far.

GABON STARTING XI: Ovono Ebang, Poko, Appindangoye, Ecuele Manga, Lloyd Palun, Serge Obiang, Madinda, Bulot, Evouna, Ndong, Aubameyang

CONGO STARTING XI: Mafoumbi, Babele, Baudry, Moutou, Bissiki, Ngounga, Oniangue, Gandze, C.Ndinga, Bifouma, Ferebor

Not surprisingly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues up front for Gabon. The pacy striker was on target in their opening win over Burkina Faso.

Congo's Thievy Bifouma scored the equaliser in their opening game against host nations Equatorial Guinea. He had looked their best player throughout that match, and will surely be the main target for the team while going forward again this evening.

Ahead of this match, Gabon coach Jorge Costa simply told the media: "We already have three points, but it is not over yet."

Meanwhile, Congo skipper Prince Oniangue said: "We hope to improve on our performance, although we still got a positive result in our first match."

The players are making their way out of the tunnel ready for kickoff. Even though the host nation played earlier, it's still a big crowd at the 37,000-capacity stadium in Bata.

PREDICTION! While the anthems and other pre-match formalities take place, there's just time for a quick prediction. Gabon did look impressive in their opening match, while Congo took a while to get going against an Equatorial Guinea side that have had little time to prepare for this tournament. With that in mind, I'm going for another 2-0 Gabon win this evening.

KICKOFF! Congo get the match underway.

Gabon have to be alert at the back early on as Bifouma tries to get involved up front from a quick break, but Manga is there to pass it back for Onovo to claim.

Gabon win the first corner of the match as Mafoumbi has to tip a header from Bulot behind. Madinda curls the ball back in, but Congo make sure it doesn't reach Aubameyang.

Gabon are starting to dominate possession as Evouna races into the middle to await a cross from Aubameyang, but Gandze turns it behind for a corner, but once again Congo are quick to get it clear.

Gabon continue to do all the attacking as Aubameyang makes the run again, but Evouna can't join him up front in time to make the move count. It's been a promising start from the group leaders, but they haven't really caused too much concern for the Congo back four.

Bifouma suddenly makes a run forward, but the playmaker's flashy footwork is all for nothing as he has no support ahead of him to take on the shot.

Congo win a free kick just outside the box, and Bifouma lines it up, but his delivery fails to connect with any of his teammates. To be honest, it wasn't the best delivery, lacking in power and direction.

Congo are definitely starting to see more of the ball now, with Arnold Moutou making a run into the box, but his finish lacks power and bobbles harmlessly wide.

CHANCE! Just as Congo start to dominate, Gabon respond with a good chance down the other end as Evouna is played in by Levy Madinda, but his shot is at a comfortable height for the keeper to save.

Gabon are on the attack again with Aubameyang setting up a half-chance for Poko, but his shot was always rising, and ends up on the athletics tracks surrounding stadium.

Bifouma tries to get Congo going again after a bit of a stall in their attack. He looks for Dore in the box, but Ovono comes out and gets his body behind the ball before the striker can get his turn in.

Bifouma is bundled down near the corner flag while battling with Obiang to give Congo a free kick. Moutou curls in it well, looking for Bifouma, but Ovono rises highest to punch it clear for Gabon.

Ferebory Dore is down after being caught by a flailing arm from Levy Madinda. The Congo striker needs some attention from the physio, but it looks like he'll be coming back on in a moment.

CHANCE! Evouna has a superb chance to open the scoring as he loses the defender with a quick run, looking to latch onto a through-ball from Madinda. However, Moubhio just gets a foot to it first to guide it to Mafoumba.

It's all gone a bit flat in the last few minutes as both sides continue to run at the opposing goal, but they're struggling to really impose themselves in the final third. Aubameyang has looked sharp for Gabon, but Evouna drifts offside while waiting for the Borussia Dortmund man's cross.

Madinda tries to cut inside from the edge of the box, but his curled but Mafoumbi comes off his line to take it. Meanwhile, there's a worry for Congo as Bifouma is down injured.

The stretcher is on for Bifouma, who appeared to twist his knee while off the ball. The physio is working on his leg in a big to get him back on the pitch, but he has his head is his hands. He would be a huge loss for Congo.

CHANCE! The best chance of the match so far falls to Madinda as he rounds Moubhio before holding off Moutou to fire a shot across goal, but his sliced finish is a touch wide.

Bifouma is back on with just moments to go until half time. Dore tries to play the ball in for his strike partner, but he's still limping and doesn't have the pace to get to it in time.

BOOKING! Bruno Manga gets the first yellow card of the match as as he handles the ball just outside the box, giving Gabon a dangerous free kick right at the end of the half.

CHANCE! Aubameyang takes the free kick, and he hits it superbly, clearing to wall to force a save, but Mafoumbi parries it away.

Gabon certainly had the better of the chances in the opening 45 minutes, but neither team managed to break the deadlock in the first half in the Group A clash in Bata this evening.

Let's take a look at some of the stats from the first half. Gabon had the majority of the possession with 59%, and had twice as many shots, with six to Congo's three. Half of Gabon's efforts were on target, but Congo failed to force a save from Ovono, although he did come for a couple of crosses. Congo have been a bit scrappy to, conceding 12 fouls to Gabon's seven.

One key point for Congo is whether or not Thievy Bifouma is able to return for the second half. He appeared to be in agony after twisting his knee just a few minutes before the break, but he limped through the last couple of minutes to give himself half time to shake the problem. He has been their best player so far, and there's no-one on the bench with his experience and talent.

The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the start of the second half.

The good news for Congo is that Bifouma is back out there.

KICKOFF! The second half of the match gets underway.

Fode and Manga clash as the Gabon defender tries to stop the Congo striker getting a cross in, but he quickly shakes it off.

Congo win a corner, and Gabon try to scramble to get it clear as Delvin Ndinga lines up a header. His effort is blocked, but only as far as Prince Oniangue, leaving the captain to rifle it into the bottom left corner.

Gabon find themselves trailing for the first time in this competition, so if they really are contenders they'll have to show it in the next 40 minutes. Poko wins a free kick for Gabon, but they can't create anything from it, and the winger seems to have picked up a knock.

CHANCE! A speculative ball forward drops to Moutou on the edge of he box, and he hits in on the volley to force a stunning save from Ovono, but the keeper has superb reaction to stop Congo doubling their lead.

SUB! Gabon make the first change of the night as Ibrahim Ndong makes way for Guelor Kanga. Meanwhile, the referee sends Bifouma to the sideline to change his socks, because they are apparently not up to standard.

Gabon push for the equaliser as Madinda curls the ball in towards Bulot, but the midfielder had been in an offside position in the buildup, so the assistant raises his flag.

Madinda continues to stretch the the Congo defence as a long ball forward falls kindly for him on the edge of the box, but he leans back too for as he unleashes his finish, sending it well high.

Gabon force a corner as they start to see plenty of the ball again. The initial delivery is delayed because of some pushing and shoving in the box. Bulot eventually gets it in to Aubameyang, who in turn finds Appindangoye, but he can only head wide.

CHANCE! Evouna has the best chance since the restart for Gabon as Aubameyang sets him up in space with a perfectly weighted ball forward, but the striker takes too long to get his shot away and he's tackled, forcing him to push his shot wide.

Gabon are still pressing to get back on level terms, and this time it's Levy Madinda supplying the ball, but Evouna is offside.

Aubameyang hasn't had too many shots himself this evening, but he has been working hard to create chances for others, but this time his cross is blocked.

BOOKING! Poko chases down a ball from, but he clatters into the striker and gives away a free kick.

Bifouma tries to set up a chance for Congo as they now that another goal would make things a lot easier in the final 15 minutes, but Moutou's finish was never troubling the goalkeeper.

Congo have been looking a little weary in the last five minutes or so as they try to run down the remaining 10 minutes. Gabon are still on the attack though, but Baudry digs deep to make a clearance.

Some of the crowd think that Madinda has found the equaliser as he rifles in a low shot for Gabon, but his finish just brushes the side netting as it goes wide.

SUB! Levy Madinda has been busy all evening, but he's heading off early as Samson Mbingui comes on for Gabon.

Congo have almost all their players back as they try to hold off the late Gabon challenge. Aubameyang trues to set something up, but there just isn't space in the penalty area.

SUB! Gabon make their final change, replacing Bulot with Johann Diderot Lengoualama. It's an attacking change, replacing a midfielder with a striker.

There are four minutes of stoppage time for Congo to see out the win or Gabon to try and get something late on.

Poko wins the ball in midfield for Gabon and launches it deep but there's too much on it for Lengoualama, allowing Mafoumbi to claim it in the Congo goal.

Bifouma leads the charge straight back down the other end as Congo close in on what will be there first AFCON win since 1974. They can't get the shot away, but manage to waste some time out wide near the corner flag.

Prince Oniangue's second-half strike is enough for Congo to end their 41-year wait for a win at AFCON, and move them to the top of Group A.

That's all from the Africa Cup of Nations today, but join us again tomorrow as the second round of fixtures in Group B gets underway. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.