Congo 2-1 Burkina Faso: Ibenge's men win Group A

Thegoalmac can reveal that Thievy Bifouma helped book Congo's place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with the opening goal in their 2-1 win over Burkina Faso on Sunday.

For the first time since 1992, Congo have progressed to the last eight of the tournament after Claude Le Roy led them to the top of Group A with seven points.


A quiet opening 45 minutes saw Burkina Faso have the better of the chances, but they were punished early in the second half.

Thievy put his body on the line to meet Ferebory Dore's low cross, the striker sandwiched between Steeve Yago and goalkeeper Germain Sanou as he registered his second goal of the tournament.

Burkina Faso – beaten finalists in 2013 – introduced star names Aristide Bance and Bertrand Traore from the bench to try and reignite their campaign, and the former gave them hope with an 86th-minute strike.

However, Congo substitute Fabrice N'Guessi Ondama secured their win, after Sanou had misjudged a punch.
Victory sealed top spot in the group for Le Roy's side, with host nation Equatorial Guinea also progressing after a 2-0 win over Gabon.