Kicking off the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, hosts nation, Cameroon came from behind to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 and end a run of three competitive head-to-head draws.
Both teams locked horns at the 60,000 seaters Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Sunday for the official opening match of the postponed AFCON 2021.
Less than a minute into the game, Steeve Yago was booked for a terrible foul on Moumi Ngamaleu, as he became the first player to be booked at this year’s tournament.
The Indomitable Lions got off to a magnificent start but were unable to translate that into a lead, as Karl Toko Ekambi couldn’t find the target from a tight angle after Hervé Koffi came flying out of his box.
The Stallions went ahead in the 24th minute, thanks to Gustavo Sangaré who finished clinically from Bertrand Traoré’s cross.
Bertrand Traore who assisted his team’s goal, gave away the penalty to the opposition when he fouled André-Frank Zambo Anguissa while trying to reach a bouncing ball in the box and was called by VAR. Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar stepped up to and showed incredible composure to send Koffi the wrong way and slide the ball home in the 40th minute.
Just before the halftime, Issoufou Dayo cleared out Nouhou Tolo, and just like the first time, Vincent Aboubakar, made no mistake from the spot to become the first player to score brace in the tournament.
The 29-year-old thought he had secured his hat-trick just before the hour mark, as Koffi’s save from Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu’s shot bounced off him and into the net, but it was ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR check.
His brace in his ninth AFCON participation marks his second and third AFCON career goals with his ever AFCON goal dated back to 2017 in Gabon final against Egypt, a goal that gave the Indomitable Lions its fifth AFCON title.
Cameroon have never lost a game in Yaoundé since October 12, 1988 when they fell 1-0 to Gabon in the regional Coupe UDEAC tournament.
Also, in 1972, Cameroon scored twice in the first half as host of the AFCON. 50 years on, they scored twice in the first half as the host of the AFCON.
MOLATsportgist 