AFCON 2021 Semi-finals: It’s Host Cameroon Vs Egypt, Burkina Faso Vs Senegal
- As CAF lists ban on Olembe Stadium
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – With eyes on winning their sixth continental title, Hosts Cameroon will face an uphill task going up against seventh-time winners, Egypt in the semi-final fixtures of the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
This is as the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) lifted the temporary suspension on Olembe Stadium, Yaounde after receiving a report compiled by its Safety and Security Department with the Organizing Committee of African Cup of Nations (COCAN) in regard to the tragedy that occurred at the stadium on Monday, January 24, 2022.
The Indomitable Lions will certainly have their hands full battling the Pharaohs who had to dig deep before sending Morocco packing 2-1 after pulsating 120 minutes with the game ending 1-1 in 90 minutes regulation time.
Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet scored for Egypt, while Sofiane Boufal scored Morocco’s only goal of the match through a penalty in the first half.
Fully backed by their former international player and current President of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o Fils, Cameroon had enjoyed their passage into the last four stage by eliminating Gambia 2-0 on Saturday.
The other semi-final clash is between Burkina Faso, who defeated Nigeria’s conquerors, Tunisia 1-0 and Senegal that went pass Equatorial Guinea 3-1 on Sunday night.
Burkina Faso will tackle Senegal on Wednesday night with Egypt facing Cameroon on Thursday night.
On the state of affairs concerning the Olembe Stadium, CAF said in a statement that its decision to clear the venue for matches was informed by the report from investigations which highlighted the extensive onsite meetings and discussions held with stakeholders.
The stakeholders included senior representatives of the police, the gendarmerie, the military, together with high-ranking Cameroonian Government, Defence, and Police Ministers inclusive of the Governor of Yaoundé among others.
CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, had suspended the 60,000 capacity Olembe Stadium temporarily following a stampede which left eight persons dead with many others sustaining injuries.
