Host nation Equatorial Guinea have drawn their second consecutive game at the Africa Cup of Nations with a goalless stalemate against Group A rivals Burkina Faso.

Both teams showed plenty of attacking intent during the early stages, but it was Burkina Faso who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 20 minutes when Alain Traore's free kick came back off the post.

The Stallions almost found the net again soon after as Aristide Bance's strike was pushed away by goalkeeper Felipe Ovono, while Traore hit the woodwork for a second time with a fierce drive on 38 minutes.

Burkina Faso continued to pepper the home side's goal with shots during the final stages of the opening half, only for Ovono to deny Bance and then Bertrand Traore.

The two sides came flying out of the traps at the start of the second period, with both creating good chances in front of goal.

Javier Balboa sliced his effort high over the crossbar for Equatorial Guinea on 48 minutes before Jonathan Pitroipa was inches away from converting at the other end following Bance's flick-on.

The hosts looked the more likely to score as the game moved into the final 25 minutes as Boula Kike was denied by Wilfried Sanou after Emilio Nsue had fluffed his lines with a header from a corner.

Despite late openings for the two teams, neither were able to find what would have been the winning goal. Alain Traore was in the thick of the action once more with minutes remaining, only for his low strike to flash the wrong side of the post.