Burkina Faso held to goalless draw against Equatorial Guinea

Burkina Faso were left clinging to their African Nations Cup future after a frustrating goalless draw with hosts Equatorial Guinea.

Knowing defeat would see them eliminated, the 2013 runners-up pressed forward throughout and hit the woodwork twice in the first half through Alain Traore.

But their end product was increasingly lacking as the match went on and they will need other results to go their way if they are to qualify.

Burkina Faso threatened first when Alain Traore's free-kick curled around the wall but bounced against the left post.

They had an alarm when goalkeeper Germain Sanou was wrongly penalised for handling outside his area, but they broke from the free-kick and Jonathan Pitroipa was brought down by last man Diosdado Mbele in a wide position.

Only a yellow card was shown - enough to see Mbele suspended for the final group game against Ghana - and after Randy Iyanga conceded a second free-kick Aristide Bance's fierce drive was parried away by keeper Felipe Ovono.

Sanou had to be alert to clear Bakary Kone's risky back-pass and he then made a solid near-post save from Armando Bohale, who had no support in the box.

Alain Traore's volley was fumbled against the near post by an uncertain Ovono and nearly fell to Bance before Bertrand Traore brilliantly beat Iyanga and fired in a shot which was turned away.

Ivan Zarandona kept Equatorial Guinea on terms, first with a vital interception with Bance closing in and then by clearing Bertrand Traore's low goalbound shot.

Emilio Nsue had a shot blocked for the hosts but Alain Traore then wasted some good work by younger brother Bertrand with a wild finish.

Bance's header across goal early in the second half almost fell to Pitroipa while at the other end, Nsue raced onto a through-ball but could not control and Sanou snuffed out the chance.

Alain Traore sent a sidefoot volley high and wide and Bance's shot took an awkward bounce and troubled Ovono.

Equatorial Guinea broke from their opponents' corner but Kike Boula curled high and wide.

Rui Da Gracia blocked another powerful Bance drive and Pitroipa flashed a shot just over before Alain Traore sidefooted wide.

Sanou had to flap a corner away from 6ft 6in Equatorial Guinea substitute Raul Fabiani Bosio and Burkina Faso appeared to have run out of ideas at the other end as they failed to find a breakthrough.