Cameroon claimed the bronze medals at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Burkina Faso 5-3 on penalties in the third place playoff in Yaounde on Saturday. The match ended 3-3 after 90 minutes and went straight to a shootout.
Cameroon started the stronger of the two sides but Burkina Faso had the first real chance in the 11th minute after Abdoul Tapsoba went through on goal in the six-yard box from Djibril Ouattara’s pass but his toe-poke lacked power and was saved by goalkeeper Andre Onana .
The Stallions eventually broke the deadlock in the 24th minute after Steeve Yago fired home a left-footed strike from Issa Kabore’s cross.
Burkina Faso added to their advantage in the 43rd minute, as Issa Kabore latched onto a fine long ball from a tight angle, with Andre Onana deflecting it into his own net.
Cameroon were no match for the West Africans and were second best in every department.They headed into the break without testing fully stretching goalkeeper Ouédraogo.
The Indomitable saw a bit more of the ball at the start of the second half, but it was Burkina Faso who were rewarded on the 49th minute courtesy of Djibril Ouattara header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
In the 58th minute substitute Vincent Aboubakar nearly scored for Cameroon with a long range shot that skimmed the wrong side of the post.
Jérôme Onguéné came close just a minute later but the midfielder fired an effort just wide of the mark from the edge of the area.
Cameroon id try find their way back into the match and managed to find their lone goal on the 71st minute courtesy of Stéphane Bahoken right footed shot from close range.
Burkina Faso remained on the front foot, pressurizing Cameroon and Yago came close to making it 4-0 in the last ten with a cracking free-kick on the edge of the box that was tipped to the post by Onana.
Disaster struck for the Stallions on the 87th minute. A great ball from the centre of the pitch was miscalculated Ouédraogo before Aboubakar slotted in home to send the match into a penalty shooutout.
Here’s how they started:
Burkina Faso: F. Ouédraogo; S. Yago, E. Tapsoba, S. Ouattara, I. Kaboré, B. Touré, G. Sangaré, I. Ouédraogo, B. Traoré, Djibril Ouattara, A. Tapsoba
Cameroon: A. Onana; A. Oyongo, H. Moukoudi, J. Onguéné, O. Mbaizo, P. Kunde, S. Oum Gouet (Aboubakar 46), J. Onana, S. Bahoken, C. Bassogog (Ekambi 54), I. Ganago (Ngamaleu 46)
