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Congo rallied back late to pull even in a blistering AFCON 2015 opener against host Equatorial Guinea.

Skipper  Emilio Nsue, set the stadium agog with a cool finish from close range in the opening embers of the game only for Thievy Bifouma to silence the home crowd with a carbon copy of Nsue's goal.

A tale of two halves it was with the host clearly dominating proceedings in the first half. Equatorial Guinea were a delight to watch with a good mix of team work and individual brilliance.

The National Thunder struck early in the 16th minute from close range thanks to Nsue who planted the ball between the legs of oncoming Henri Maffoumbi.

He had been played through by Kike, who teasingly outwitted his marker before setting up the skipper for a well taken goal.

Ivon Salvador a young Spanish turned Equatorial Guinean was stupendous in first half dancing his way through the Congolese defence and creating lots of problems for Nganga and Boris Moubhio.

Late in the first he attempted an audacious  30 yard strike which Henri Maffoumbi had to be palm it the first time before finally grabbing it the second.

Congo looked a bit emasculated in the first half and were left with few wild shots from otherwise perfect goal scoring positions.

The second half began the same way the first half ended and it was the host who were dictating the pace.

Nsue on two occasions in the second half should have doubled the lead for the host. On the first occasion he fluffed his lines with a poor volley from close range which Maffoumbi palmed for corner.

And on the second he got it right with a teasing volley which arched above Maffoumbi into the yawning net for what looked like a clean goal but not for the referee. Bakary Gassama judged Nsue to have been in an offside position when he was found with that long searching ball.

The decision left Nsue, his coach and the crowd shattered. That call proved to be doom of the host.

The visitors rallied back with venom late in the game and left the defence of the Equitorial Guineans in tatters.

The Red Devils had an immaculate free-kick ricochet the goal post when the attacker needed the faintest of touches to pull even.

But Thievy Bifouma made it count late on with four minutes left. He slotted the ball between the legs of Ivono after he was played through by Babele.
 
The host would have been left shattered if Congo had taken a chance that came in added time.

With Ivono at his mercy the Congolese striker shot feebly within six yards, a chance he would curse for the entire tournament.

1-1 it ended and a thoroughly exciting game it was. 

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Extra-time 1' Referee whistles for the end of the opening game. A kick in the teeth of the host. But Congo won't mind.

90’ Congo looking to take the lead after another chance inside the penalty box is fluffed. EG have been punished for poor defensive football. They are beginning to look jittery.

86' Congo's Thievy Bifouma equalises after  sliding the ball through the legs of Ivono for a goal in the dying minutes of the game.

84' Congo piling the pressure as EG beat a retreat into their half. They want to defend out the remaining minutes.

82' Congolese cross into the box finds a connection but it hits the side bar as EG are caught ball watching. A rebound is blocked.

80' An over-enthusiatic EG goal keeper is yellow carded after he rushes out and takes out a Congolese attacker

77' Congolese substitution is effected.Strong challenge against Congolese midfielder in the center circle is ruled a foul. 

73' EG gameplan is predictable as a third lob finds an attacker again unmarked. He lobs the ball over the keeper to score. But his goal is ruled offide once again. Controversial decision as replay shows the player was on side.

 

72  The same chance falls again in the same position after a decent chip finds the attacker offside.

70' Another great opportunity to increase the lead is underutilized as an EG attacker gets a direct ball and meets the keeper unmarked. But his shot to find space at the near post is reflexively pushed away.

66’ A Congolese attacker is in a great position at the edge of the box, he hestitates under pressure. Shot is blocked. Falls for another attacker for another shot. But a good low shot is palmed away narrowly by the keeper for a corner.

63' Corner for Congo is disappointing as EG keeper plucks the ball mid air. A counter attack is not efficient as Congo kills off the attack.

61 EG’s Nsue tries to outrun his marker on the wings but he is eventually dispossessed. Another Congolese substitution in a game in which they have been underwhelming.

59'  Unmarked EG attacker underutilizes a great opportunity in a pretty close encounter with the keeper

56' EG effect a substitution. A freekick for Congo in their own half. Darts through the center but the through pass is intercepted. 

54’ Prolific display by EG. Flicks and dribbles in a dangerous edge of the Congolese box produces little results but of course excites the crowd.

47’ Congo get a freekick in a decent wide position . Cross comes in. But it is dealt with expertly. EG defender tries a direct ball to the last third but it is marked down and controlled by Congo.

46' Congo trying to spread the ball around the midfield. Dispossessed. EG try another skill run on the left wing but is sandwiched by two opposition defenders. One of the defenders is injured and stretched off the pitch.

46' Game back on and its Congo who get the game underway.

45' Referee whistles for end of first half. Home fans looking cheerful as Congolese team look disappointed. They are yet to find their rhythm

42' Congolese cross  inside the penalty is pushed out by EG keeper. It falls to Congo’s Oniangue  outside the 18-yard box but he volleys miles over the top.

41' Goalkick is taken Congo disposses EG. Several players Congolese players arch around the EG 18-yard box for a pass or cross or anything to test the keeper but the host defends well.

37' EG  more animated after the opener. Congo yet to find their rhythm as they try to deal with the frequent use of the wings by the host. A long shot from the center by  Ivan Salvador tests Congolese keeper's position but he passes the test.

26'     The Congolese mount pressure on the host but Ovono once again saves a rather feeble attempt at goal from the Congolese.

25'      The Congolese search for the equaliser but Marvin Baudry's towering header from a long Nganga cross whisks just wide.

22'     A rough challenge against a EG midfielder earns Congolese midfielder, Boris, the first yellow

16'      Great start from the host who are in front. GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is Emilio Nsue who slots it in but credit goes to Kike, who outwits his marker       before setting up Nsue for the opener. The skipper leads by example and the crowd is in jubilant mood.

12'      And what a great piece of skill by Ivan Salvador. The young Spanish turned Equatorial Guinean dances past two Congolese markers but     stopped in his tracks by a third.

9'        Ovono pulls a great save for the host after the Congolese attacker tried to outwit him by going for goal when everybody was expecting a pull out.

5'        Prince Oniangue tries an audacious shot from 30 yards which whisks just wide.

2'       The host underline their intention early in the game with a quick break and a great cross from the left but desperate defending from the Congolese men in defence saves the Situation for the red devils who surprisingly are not in red today.

1'       Equatorial Guinea set the game underway in their traditional all red paraphernelia. Congo in an all white apparel.

Line Ups for both sides.

Congo:                                                                                               Equatorial Guinea: 

Henri Maffoumbi,                                                                                 Felipe Ovono,

Francis Nganga,                                                                                 Diosdado Mbele,

Boris Moubhio,                                                                                     Ivan Zarandona,

Arnold Bouka Moutou,                                                                          Pablo C

Prince Oniangue,                                                                                 omitro,

 Delvin Ndinga,                                                                                     Randy,

Dore Ferebory,                                                                                       Rui Gomez,

Thievy Bifouma,                                                                                     Emilio Nsue,

Cesair Gandze,                                                                                    Javier Balboa,

Marvin Baudry,                                                                                      Kike,

Sagesse Babele.                                                                               Ivan Salvador,

1558 It's time for the national anthems and Congo go first. Host nation follows with a thunderous applause from the thousands of fans who have crammed the Stade de Bata.

1556 The Caf delegation and president Nguema exchange pleasantries with players of both sides who appear to be in high spirits.

1550 President  Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea has been awarded with a medal by CAF President Issa Hayatou.

After a modest opening ceremony which exhibited the rich culture of the little oil rich West African Country all is set for the BIG KICK-OFF. At 16:00 GMT host nation Equatorial Guinea will open the 2015 Afcon hostilities against Congo. It is a must win match for the host but will face a cagey Congo side led by experienced coach Claude Le Roy. Myjoyonline.com, your online AFCON Centre brings you live update of the opening AFCON encounter