Denis Bouanga recovered from an early second-half penalty disappointment to score twice, inspiring Gabon to a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Lesotho.
The Panthers, who entered the encounter as favourites, faced a stubborn Lesotho side that defended resolutely and made life difficult for their hosts throughout a tightly contested first half.
Lesotho’s physical approach and defensive organisation frustrated Gabon, with the visitors also accumulating four yellow cards during the encounter. T. Makhele was cautioned for dissent in the 36th minute before P. Molaoa received a booking for a foul four minutes later.
The contest burst into life after the hour mark, with Bouanga experiencing both frustration and redemption in a dramatic spell.
Gabon were awarded a penalty in the 64th minute, but Bouanga failed to convert from the spot, crashing against the woodwork to deny the hosts an immediate breakthrough.
However, the forward quickly put the disappointment behind him. Just a minute later, Guelor Kanga produced an excellent piece of attacking play to unlock the Lesotho defence, setting up Bouanga, who made no mistake with his finish to give Gabon the lead in the 65th minute.
The goal forced Lesotho to abandon some of their defensive caution as they searched for a response, creating further opportunities for the Panthers to exploit.
Gabon were awarded another penalty in the 79th minute, and Bouanga stepped forward once again. This time, the forward kept his composure to send the ball into the net, completing his brace and putting the result beyond doubt.
Despite five minutes of added time, Lesotho could not find a way back into the contest as Gabon comfortably protected their advantage.
The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory for the Panthers, with Bouanga emerging as the decisive figure after turning an initial penalty setback into a match-winning performance.
