Goalkeeper Didier Ovono proved the hero as Gabon got their Group A campaign at the African Nations Cup off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso at the Estadio de Bata in Equatorial Guinea on Saturday.
The veteran gloveman made a number of superb saves to keep the Burkinabe at bay as star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Malick Evouna scored to give Gabon the perfect start to a tournament where they will be considered Dark Horses for the title.
Burkina Faso were arguably the better side on the night but found Ovono in inspired form as he beat away everything they could throw at him.
Gabon took their chances well and showed that they could be a force in this competition, which is being played in conditions similar to what they are used to across the border in their home country.
Ovono was by far the busier of the two glovemen in the opening period and was first called into action after an excellent volley from Bertrand Traore that he beat to safety.
But Gabon had the lead on 19 minutes when Aubameyang kept his cool after Burkina Faso goalkeeper Germain Sanou had saved his first effort.
He got the ball onto his favoured right-foot and picked his spot to blast into the top of the net with a fine finish that showed all the skill and composure of the Borussia Dortmund striker.
It was almost 2-0 when Ibrahim Ndong ran onto a ball in the box, but his shot across goal went agonisingly wide, but the rest of the half belonged to Burkina Faso.
Jonathan Pitroipa came close to levelling the scores 10 minutes before half-time when he latched onto the lose ball in the Gabon box, but his goal-bound effort was superbly stopped by Ovono.
Alain Traore smashed a 30-yard free-kick off the top of the crossbar just passed the hour mark as Burkina Faso continued to make the running on the pitch, but trailed on the scoreboard.
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There were then remarkable saves at either end within the space of 20 seconds of each other.
First Sanou denied Frederic Bulot with a wonderful stop from 12-yards, before Burkina Faso broke up-field and Bertrand Traore looked as though he had to score before Ovono stuck out a boot to save his side once more.
That save proved crucial again as Gabon doubled their advantage on 72 minutes.
Aubameyang spread a ball wide to Bulot, whose cross from the right was powerfully headed into the back of the net by an unchallenged Evouna.
Gabon were able to soak up the Burkinabe pressure in the final 15 minutes for what looks a comfortable win, but was achieved thanks to their big goalie Ovono.
Next up for Gabon is a meeting with Congo in Bata on Wednesday, while Burkina faso take on hosts Equatorial Guinea in the earlier game.
