Cameroon rally past COVID-hit Burkina Faso to win Africa Cup of Nations opener
Captain Vincent Abubakar converted two penalties as hosts Cameroon overcame Burkina Faso 2-1 in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations final in Yaounde on Sunday.
Burkina Faso, who were without their coach Camou Malo and six players who tested positive for COVID-19, moved to the newly-built Olembe Stadium, around 45,000, after Gustavo Sangare pacified the home crowd. With fans estimating, two clumsy penalties handed out. First goal of the game.
The Burkina Faso Football Federation issued a formal letter to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of the match in protest of alleged issues with its COVID-19 testing programme. Captain Bertrand Traore told ESPN he believes the situation is a "scam".
On Sunday, Sangare gave Burkinabe a surprise lead in their Group A encounter with his left foot in the 24th minute, but then Traore and defender Issoufou Daio awarded penalties in quick succession.
Abubakar, who was part of Cameroon's winning team at the 2017 Cup of Nations in neighboring Gabon, tucked both kicks with aplomb.
Traore jumped clumsily to catch Andre Zambo Anguisa in the 37th minute, but it was awarded as a penalty only after Algerian referee Mustafa Ghorbal checked with VAR.
However, the referee had no hesitation in awarding the second prize as Deyo's terrifying tackle took Nouu Tolo's legs as the first half went into stoppage time.
Burkina Faso's goal came after a rare error from Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana, who had recently returned from a nine-month drug ban, as he came out and missed Traor's cross, leaving Sangare skillfully at last post. allowed to terminate.
Onana compensated for this with a point-blank stop from Sangre at the start of the second half, before Abubakar Cameron accelerated to the other end at the breakaway, but before the ball was deflected, and into the net, for one. Wandered a little. Possible hat-trick.
It took VAR two minutes to confirm the lineman's decision.
Abubakar, who was proving dangerous on the right, had another great chance for his hat-trick, with 14 minutes to go, but blasted wildly from an angle.
The inaugural game was preceded by a colorful opening ceremony, against a backdrop of frenzied preparations to prepare the 24-team tournament in time.
The CAF had contemplated canceling the tournament last month and several COVID-19 cases continued to cast a shadow over the events.
