- Burkina Faso 3-3 Cameroon (3-5 pens)
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Captain Fantastic, Vincent Aboubakar was on target twice as Cameroon fought back from 3-0 down against Burkina Faso to levelling matters before winning the third-place play-off 5-3 on penalties.
Both teams went into the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde hoping to make amends for their semi-final disappointments but it was the Toni Conceicao’s men who produced a stunning comeback to beat the Stallions for the AFCON 2021 bronze medal
In their semi-final outings, the Stallions had fumbled to a 3-1 defeat in the hands of Senegal, while the Indomitable Lions did not fare any better losing 3-1 to Pharaohs of Egypt on penalties after scores stood 0-0 after extra time.
Despite a bright start by the hosts, it was the West Africans who took a shock lead in the 24th minute through Steeve Yago, whose half-volley from Issa Kabore’s well-taken cross was enough to beat goalkeeper Andre Onana. That strike woke the five-time African champions from their slumber.
However, while trying to restore parity, it was Burkina Faso who added the second two just minutes before the half-time break. Kabore’s harmless cross was fumbled into the net by Onana. Cameroon players protested claiming the ball had gone out of play. Nonetheless, the goal stood after referee Redouane Jiyed consulted VAR.
Knowing that they have an arduous task to level matter, Aboubakar was introduced for Samuel Gouet early in the second half. Even at that, it was more worries for Toni Conceicao’s Lions as they leaked the third goal four minutes after restart courtesy of Djibril Ouattara – who headed Bertrand Traore’s glancing cross into the net.
While Burkina Faso fans were already jubilating thanks to their three-goal advantage, Cameroon did the unthinkable. First, they pulled one goal back through Stephane Bahoken in the 71st minute. The 29-year-old Angers’ striker benefitted from a goalmouth scramble to fire past goalkeeper Farid Ouedraogo from close range.
With just five minutes left on the clock, Aboubakar made it two for the AFCON hosts heading home a corner kick from Nicolas Ngamaleu.
The comeback was complete in the closing seconds of the match as the former FC Porto star capitalised on a blunder from Ouedraogo to tap into the net, a goal that sent the home fans into wild jubilation.
That goal saw Aboubakar equal Patrick M’Boma’s Cameroon goal mark to become the country’s third-leading scorer in football history.
Then the stage was set for the penalty kicks to determine the third-place winners. Fortunately for him, Goaltender Onana went from villain to hero by stopping Ibrahim Toure’s kick, thus denying Kamou Malo’s men a chance of returning home with the tournament’s bronze medal. – With Goal.com reports
