Burkina Faso 1 - Gabon 0; Niger 2 - Congo 2

Ouagadougou and hosts Burkina Faso welcomed Gabon to town for their crucial final qualifying match of the CAF Second Round.  Gabon needed a win and a Congo loss in the other Group E match being played simultaneously in order to advance.  Burkina Faso needed a win and for Congo not to win in order to advance.  No goals were scored in the first period.

Nearly ten minutes into the second period, Burkina Faso played a cross into the danger area.  Prejuce Nekoulma headed a powerful strike into the goal to give The Stallions a lead.  Burkina Faso were now hoping for help from Niger, having already held up their end of the bargain.  Burkina Faso win 1-0.  The result eliminates Gabon from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Niamey and hosts Niger looked to spoil the dreams of visiting Congo.  A Congo victory over the last-place hosts would see Congo through to the next round, but a slip-up would likely see their dreams shattered.  Mahamane Cisse drove up the left side of the Congolese defense and then shot from a very obtuse angle to score at the near post for the opener.  Niger were ahead 1-0 at halftime, but Congo were still in position to advance with Burkina Faso and Gabon all square at halftime in the other match.

Congo drew level midway through the second half.  A cross from the right bounced just out of reach of a pair of players, freezing the Niger goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda (pictured, blue) at his near post.  Fabrice Nguessi then finished at the far post to level the match.  But four minutes later the hosts had restored their lead.  Daouda Kamilou finish a half volley under pressure from the half circle to make it 2-1.  Six minutes after that, Congo forward Christopher Samba (pictured, red with ball) won a header against Daouda.  His header softly bounced back into play off the crossbar, allowing Ulrich Kapolongo to score the equalizer with a diving header.  Congo were unable to push the third goal across and received no help from Gabon in the other match.  Niger pull out a 2-2 draw against favored Congo, eliminating Congo from the 2014 FIFA World Cup and handing Burkina Faso a berth in the last round of African qualifying.

Burkina Faso 12 pts IN
Congo OUT
Gabon OUT
Niger OUT

Goals
Burkina Faso
Prejuce Nekoulma 54

Niger
Mahamane Cisse 34
Daouda Kamilou 70

Congo
Fabrice Nguessi 66
Ulrich Kapolongo 76

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6tWa67zzBc (Burkina Faso v. Gabon)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxaj2_Y0f0k (Niger v. Congo)