Korbi gets Tunisia off mark as Gabon too strong for Niger

Morocco 1 Tunisia 2

Tunisia beat Morocco in the 2004 final and again had the measure of their north African opponents, who featured Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh and QPR’s Abel Taraabt among their ranks.

Midfielder Korbi’s intended cross put the Tunisians ahead before half-time, and Youssef Msakni extended their lead in the Group C clash.

Houssine Kharja scored to make for a tense finish in Libreville, but Morocco could not find a leveller.

MOROCCO: Lamyaghri, Chretien, Benatia, Kantari, El Kaddouri, Belhanda, Boussoufa (Hadji 60), Kharja, Amrabat, Assaidi (Taarabt 46), Chamakh (El Arabi 78).

TUNISIA: Mathlouthi, Abdennour, Haggui, Ifa, Jemal, Korbi, Traoui, Chikhaoui (Ragued 65), Dhaouadi (Chermiti 80), Allagui (Msakni 56), Khelifa.

Gabon 2 Niger 0

PIERRE-EMERICK Aubameyang played a starring role as co-hosts Gabon went top of Group C with a comfortable victory over tournament debutants Niger in Libreville.

Gabon quickly turned the power on and after forcing a number of early corners, came close to taking the lead through Aubameyang in the 18th minute.

Edmond Mouele’s cross from the right wing took a deflection off a Niger defender that allowed it to fall perfectly for the unmarked Aubameyang at the far post but, after bringing the ball down, the St Etienne striker was denied by a good block by Niger goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda.

Aubameyang made no mistake with a similar opportunity 12 minutes later though to put Gabon ahead.

Daouda desperately scrambled across his goal to try to cut out another looping cross from the right, this time from N’Guema, but he was just unable to reach the ball and 22-year-old Aubameyang was on hand to head in at the far post.

Niger, who caused a huge shock when they finished above three-time reigning champions Egypt and South Africa in qualifying, enjoyed a rare attack in the 42nd minute when Alhassane Issoufou and Boubacar Talatou saw close-range efforts blocked following a corner.

Eric Mouloungui did superbly to win back possession before laying the ball off to Charly Moussono, whose cross looked set to result in Aubameyang’s second goal as the 22-year-old launched himself at the ball to power a header goalward.

He was denied by a brilliant save by Daouda, but from the follow-up N’Guema slotted into an empty net.

Gabon held onto their advantage relatively comfortably in the second half, although they did need a diving save from Didier Ovono Ebang to keep out Boubacar Issoufou’s 78th-minute header.

Gabon might also have increased their lead late but, after defensive error, Aubameyang fired just wide from the edge of the box while Daniel Cousin saw a dipping shot go just over.

Today Group D kicks off, with Ghana facing Botswana and Mali facing Guinea.

GABON: Ovono Ebang, Mouele, Ecuele Manga, Ebanega, Moussono, Madinda, Moubamba, Biyogo Poko (Palun 90), Mouloungui, N’Guema (Mbanangoye 75), Aubameyang (Cousin 84).

NIGER: Daouda, Kader Amadou, Mohamed, Soumaila, Lancina, Mazadou (Bulus 57), Issoufou, Laouali, Issoufou (Seydou Ali 43), Talatou (Moutari Amadou 63), Moussa Maazou.