Burundi qualified for the African Cup of Nations finals for the first time as they kept Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in check to get the point they needed in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
While Burundi needed only to draw, visitors Gabon, who hosted the last finals in 2017, had to win in Bujumbura to join Group C winners Mali in the expanded 24-team finals in Egypt in June and July.
Burundi joins Madagascar and Mauritania as countries going to the finals for the first time and their achievement sparked wild celebrations in the tiny east African country.
Burundi was kept at bay repeatedly throughout the match by the heroics of Gabon’s veteran goalkeeper Didier Ovono before Cedric Amissi finally broke the deadlock in the 75th minute.
Yet celebrations were kept on hold until the final whistle as Gabon equalized with eight minutes to go when Burundi defender Omar Ngandu turned the ball into his own net.
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Gabon’s Arsenal striker Aubameyang had a largely quiet afternoon and they were unable to get the second goal they needed to reach the finals instead.
The 2019 African Cup of Nations makes history as the first to be held in June rather than the traditional January/ February slot, and is also bigger than ever before.
Hosts Egypt, who stepped in after Cameroon were stripped of the privilege, will welcome 23 further participants in the tournament, the first time the AFCON has featured more than 16 nations.
