Sunday 25 January 2015 20:41, UK
Hosts Equatorial Guinea advanced to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations amid emotional scenes on Sunday as second-half goals by Javier Balboa and Iban Edu secured a 2-0 win over Gabon in Bata.
The Nzalang Nacional had to win to progress from Group A at Gabon's expense and were on their way once former Real Madrid player Balboa won and then converted a 55th-minute penalty.
Iban Edu then came off the bench to make sure of the victory in the 86th minute as Esteban Becker's unlikely side kept alive their dream of going all the way on home soil.
There were scenes of unbridled joy among the Equatorial Guinea players at the final whistle, with some breaking down in tears.
They go through as runners-up in Group A behind Congo, who defeated Burkina Faso 2-1 in Ebebiyin in the day's other game.
Thievy Bifouma gave Congo the lead after 52 minutes before Aristide Bance's equaliser with four minutes to go.
Fabrice N'Guessi Ondama popped up with a winner a minute later for Congo, who will play whoever finishes second in Group B in the last eight.
Equatorial Guinea will now take on the winners of Group B in Ebebiyin next Saturday.
