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A late Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leveller for Gabon denied Gäel Bigirimana’s Burundi all three points in their African Cup of Nations Group C qualifier.

Bigirimana, earning only his second cap for the country of his birth after a three-year absence, was named in the starting line-up for the match in the Stade De L’Amitié.

The Swallows took the lead after 38 minutes, Stoke City’s Saido Berahino scoring on his full international debut, holding off a handful of challenges before smashing low under the keeper at his near post.

It looked like it was going to stay that way until the Arsenal striker grabbed a point for the hosts just nine minutes from time.

The result leaves Burundi on four points after two games. They face a crucial double header against Mali next month. A win in both will have them in pole position for a spot at the 2019 tournament, which takes place in Cameroon next June.

Elsewhere, Trevor Carson had to be content with a place amongst the substitutes as Northern Ireland lost 2-1 at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the UEFA Nations Cup.

Very much against the run of play, the Bosnians took the lead through Dynamo Dresden winger Haris Duljević.

The hosts continued to dominate, but a mix-up between Craig Cathcart and keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell allowed Elvis Sarić to nip and double the visitor’s advantage midway through the second half.

Will Grigg did reduce the arrears in stoppage time, but it finished in defeat for Michael O’Neill’s side.

Stephen Robinson says the international break hasn’t been wasted at Motherwell, with the manager using the time to make improvements with the team on the training ground.

The squad worked Tuesday to Friday this week in the absence of a weekend fixture, but there was no chance the time would be used to relax.

“It’s a chance to work on things we can be better at,” he said.

“The attitudes around the place are great and everyone keeps pushing and pushing themselves.”

Curtis Main is enjoying the continued hard work going on in training, despite the break from action for internationals.

The Englishman, who is desperate for the fixtures to keep on coming, says there has been no let up at Fir Park, despite the lack of a weekend fixture.

“It’s been an intense week and the manager is driving that,” he said. “He doesn’t want us to take our foot off the gas even though there’s a break.”

Young goalkeeper Peter Morrison has joined Albion Rovers on loan.

The reserve team keeper moves to Cliftonhill until January, as he looks to pick up more first team minutes.

The 20-year-old will continue to remain part of Stephen Craigan’s side and can play for Motherwell in the Reserve League and IRN-BRU Cup.

Morrison joins Ross MacLean, Neil McLaughlin, Shea Gordon and Jake Hastie out on loan, with the quartet at Morton, Stirling Albion, Partick Thistle and Alloa Athletic respectively.

This week’s Friday quiz calls on your knowledge of players who’ve picked up international caps while on the books at Fir Park.

Can you name the top 20 who have amassed appearances for their countries while plying their club trade in claret and amber?

Goal scorers Kyle MacDonald and Broque Watson were joined by goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson after the Colts won 2-1 at Dundee.

The trio were influential in the victory in the IRN-BRU Cup, which put Motherwell through to the third round of the competition for the first time.

Kyle MacDonald and Broque Watson netted for the young Steelmen as they advanced to the third round of the IRN-BRU Cup.

Having defeated East Stirlingshire in the opening match, Dundee’s Colts side were defeated 2-1 at Dens on Thursday night.

Stephen Craigan says his young Motherwell side showed “commitment and desire” as they bagged a deserved 2-1 win at Dundee in the IRN-Bru Cup.

Goals from Kyle MacDonald and Broque Watson ensured passage to the third round of the competition for the first time.

Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell were in action for Scotland Under 21s on Thursday night, as the youngsters defeated Andorra 3-0.

Cadden started the match at Tynecastle Park, setting up the third goal as he played the full 90 minutes in the UEFA European Under 21 Championship qualifier.

The Motherwell man beat two for pace down the right before swinging the ball in for Fraser Hornby, who completed his hat-trick with the goal.

Allan Campbell was on the bench and got the last 18 minutes for Scot Gemmill’s side, who now face the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Motherwell Colts became only the second-ever young side to reach the third round of the IRN-BRU Cup with a 2-1 win over Dundee.

Goals from Kyle MacDonald and Broque Watson, either side of a Jordan Armstrong own goal, ensured the youngsters are in next week’s draw.

Manager Stephen Craigan rang the changes from the side which defeated Hibernian Reserves on Monday.

Rohan Ferguson, Akeel Rehman, Jake Hastie, Armstrong and MacDonald were all recalled, as the young Steelmen looked to follow up on the first team’s recent victory at Dens.

It would be the visitors who would make the breakthrough. With the wingbacks getting forward plenty, it would be MacDonald who would open the scoring.

Holding the ball up centrally and looking for options, the right wing back instead elected to unleash a left-footed drive which fizzed into the top left corner of the net.

It was almost instantly two. George Newell worked space on the edge of the area and got away a low drive which was beaten out of the bottom right corner by the goalkeeper.

From the resulting corner, Turnbull’s downward header was hacked off the line.

Motherwell continued to dominate. MacDonald again tried his luck with a surging run into the box, before his shot was knocked behind by a busy Dundee keeper.

Against the run of play, the hosts would level just before the interval. A whipped cross into the box just needed a touch to guide it goalwards, but it would come from the unfortunate head of Armstrong, who left goalkeeper Ferguson helpless as the ball hit the net.

Motherwell continued to dominate in the second half but it took 20 minutes for their first real chance to fall.

Chasing down a long through ball, Hastie burst past two Dundee defenders to bear down on goal. Stepping inside onto his left one-on-one with the goalkeeper, his shot was blocked by the stopper’s feet.

As the latter stages of the game progressed, things started to open up. Lambert’s snap shot from close range was thankfully straight at Ferguson, while up the other end an acrobatic effort from Krones was well gathered by Jackson.

With five minutes remaining, Dundee should have wrapped things up. Scott found himself room in the box and, having taken Armstrong out of the game, had a left-footed attempt from 10 yards which somehow bent past the post.

That jolted the young Steelmen and immediately they went up the other end and won it. Turnbull made room and cut the ball to Watson inside the box, who curled the ball past the goalkeeper to put Motherwell 2-1 ahead.

Ferguson then had to pull out the heroics late on to keep the hosts out on several occasions, ensuring his side progressed.