Gabon are out of the Afcon 2015 and they are smarting at what they feel is atrocious officiating.
The country, which borders Equatorial Guinea, were left furious by a spot kick decision awarded the hosts when they met on Sunday.
That goal was the turning point.
"I don't want to make excuses but Equatorial Guinea would not have scored but for a non-existent penalty," coach Jorge Costa said after the game.
The Nzalang Nacional were awarded the penalty in the 53rd minute when experienced forward Javier Balboa was fouled in the box and the former Real Madrid star picked himself up to score the opening goal of the game won 2-0 by his side in Bata.
Skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang accused Balboa of diving.
"We should have been the team in the quarter-finals. It was not a penalty, Balboa dived, and I have been in football long enough to know that. I'm not somebody who worked in a supermarket."
A draw in the Group A finale would have been enough for the Panthers to make the last eight of the tournament.
Balboa denied that he cheated to get the decision.
"They have the right to give their views about a referee's decision during a match. However, we saw that there was a contact on the man with the ball in the box and a whistle was blown, and that should be a penalty. We couldn't say the contrary. A referee's decision is final," the Equatoguinean said.
Equatorial Guinea will now face the winner of Group B - comprising Tunisia, Cape Verde, Congo DR and Zambia - in the quarters.
No comments:
Post a Comment
drop your comment about your football hero, their fashion style, like who dresses most, who drink most ,who hang out most like going to club , who plays with woman most and so on