2022 World Cup: Aubameyang offers victory and reprieve to Gabon against Libya

Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during CAN 2015. AFP PHOTO / CARL DE SOUZA

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

2 min

In a group F dominated by Egypt, Gabon took the upper hand over Libya on Friday, November 12, on the 5th day of the World Cup qualifiers.

A penalty goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shatters the last hopes of the Libyans.

The Panthers of Gabon must now pray for a reversal of the Egyptian Pharons against Angola.

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For a few hours minimum and for a few days at best, Gabon remains alive in the race for the 3rd round

in Africa. With only 4 points on the clock before this 5th day, the Panthers had no choice: they had to beat Libya (6 points) on Friday to keep a chance to take first place at the finish. This is what they did in Franceville.

As often, it is from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that Gabon's salvation came. The Arsenal striker lacked precision on a few occasions during the first act, but he did not shake from the penalty spot. Sand Msoud, the Libyan defender, had just committed a fault in the box after a Gabonese corner. “PEA” stepped forward and scored with great poise.

In the group F standings, Gabon - who lost Aubameyang to injury in the last minutes - climbed to second place with 7 points. Libya, third with 6 points, can no longer qualify for the play-offs. Gabon must now await the result of the match between Angola and Egypt, scheduled for Friday evening. The Angolans occupy the fourth place with 3 points and are already eliminated. The Egyptians are in the lead with 10 points. A victory or a draw would mean qualifying for the third round, and therefore elimination for Gabon. A defeat in Angola in Luanda would make it possible to have an Egypt-Gabon "final" on November 16 in Alexandria.

In the other match played at the same time as Gabon-Libya, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau went 0-0 in Conakry.

A match without a stake since the fate of Group I is settled, with Morocco's clear qualification two days from the end (four matches, four wins).

► To read also: World Cup 2022: calendar and results of qualifying Africa

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