YAOUNDE – Cameroon, the host nation of the African Cup of Nations 2021, will look for a winning start to the tournament when they face Group A rivals Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium on Sunday at 6:00pm Cairo Local Time.
While Ethiopia will chase a tournament-opening victory when they face Cape Verde Islands in a Group A clash in Yaounde also on Sunday at 9:00pm Cairo Local Time.
Cameroon is one of the traditional powerhouses of the Nations Cup, having won five titles (only Egypt, seven titles, is more successful in the tournament’s history).
The Indomitable Lions were kings of Africa as recently as 2017 and are under pressure to make it six – though they will need to build momentum right from the start.
The hosts will look to their experienced players to carry the burden of expectation, with the likes of Vincent Aboubakar, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Karl Toko Ekambi and Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui all seasoned at international level.
“We will have to put a tactical strategy with the creativity of our players to make the difference. Nowadays there are no easy matches. A lot of difficulties are expected but we are prepared and ready to go into battle,” said Cameroon coach Toni Conceicao.
Burkina Faso, meanwhile, are returning to the AFCON after missing out on the 2019 edition in Egypt.
They finished an impressive third in 2017 and were runners-up in 2013 – their two best showings in the history of the tournament.
The Stallions also boast some experienced campaigners – headlined by Aston Villa striker Bertrand Traore, as well as defenders Steeve Yago and Issoufou Dayo – and they will revel in being the underdogs in this opening game.
Coach Kamou Malo says he would prefer “a team that goes into the competition with a lot of fears”, adding: “If at the beginning of a competition you get a good result it’s always flattering but it’s not always indicative.”
In head-to-head stats, Cameroon and Burkina Faso have met in nine matches across all competitions since 1998, with the Indomitable Lions claiming four wins compared to one for the Stallions, while four games have been drawn.
The teams last met in an African Nations Championship group stage match in Yaounde in January 2021, with the clash ending all square at 0-0.
Ethiopia clashes with Verde Islands
Ethiopia will face Cape Verde Islands in a Group A clash at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde also on Sunday.
Ethiopia – champions of Africa way back in 1962 – are returning to the AFCON for the first time since 2013 and looking to get out of the group stage – something they have not managed in four tournament appearances stretching back as far as 1970.
The Walia Ibex warmed up for the Nations Cup with a 3-2 friendly win over Sudan last week, with coach Wubetu Abate putting his faith in a squad which is overwhelmingly locally-based and features the likes of Getaneh Kebede and rising stars Abubeker Nassir and Amanuel Yohannes.
“We have picked a strong team that should be able to perform well at the tournament in Cameroon,” said Abate, who added that advancing into the knockout phase would represent a fine achievement.
Cape Verde will be returning to the competition for the first time since their back-to-back appearances at the 2013 and 2015 editions, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals and group stage respectively.
Led by coach Bubista, the Blue Sharks have a tinge of ‘Dad’s Army’ about them, with their key players – such as Vozinha, Stopira, Marco Soares, Ryan Mendes, Julio Tavares and Garry Rodrigues – all on the wrong side of 30.
Yet that experience and nous is not to be underestimated: Cape Verde performed strongly in the recent group phase of 2022 World Cup qualification, even holding heavyweights Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Lagos in November.
“Our goal is to go beyond the group stage and play in the second round,” said Bubista.
“For that, Cape Verde will give themselves all the means to get there with responsibility and a lot of desire.”
In head-to-head stats, this will be the first competitive meeting of Ethiopia and Cape Verde.
Profile on Group A
Group A features hosts Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands and Ethiopia.
Cameroon:
Previous appearances in finals: (19) 1970, 1972, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019
Best performance: Winners 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017
Coach: Toni Conceicao
A former Portugal international, Toni Conceicao has had a journeyman career as a coach at nine different clubs in his native country plus stints in Cyprus, Romania and Saudi Arabia.
The 60-year-old was a surprise choice to lead Cameroon, replacing Clarence Seedorf after the last Cup of Nations finals in 2019, in his first appointment to the helm of a national team.
He has had 16 games in charge of the Indomitable Lions, with nine wins, five draws and two defeats.
Key player: Andre Onana Age: 25. Goalkeeper.
Onana refused a call-up to the 2017 Cup of Nations finals as he put his club career at Ajax Amsterdam before national team selection and missed out on taking the trophy with his compatriots.
He has also just returned from a nine-month ban for drug use, with his comeback matches coming in Cameroon colours as they won their World Cup qualifying group in November.
Onana, regarded as among the best African goalkeepers, is expected to sign for Inter Milan this month.
FIFA world ranking Dec 2021: 50
How they qualified: Top placed team in Group F, ahead of Cape Verde Islands, Rwanda and Mozambique
Burkina Faso:
Previous appearances in finals: (11) 1978, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017.
Best performance: Runners-up 2013
Coach: Kamou Malo
The 58-year-old took over as national coach in mid-2019 and successfully qualified the country for the Cup of Nations finals at his first attempt. His son Patrick is part of his squad.
Key player: Bertrand Traore. Age: 26. Striker.
Traore became the third youngest player in Nations Cup history when he made a substitute appearance at the 2012 finals in Gabon aged 16.
He moved to the Chelsea academy from Bobo-Dioulasso and made his debut for the Londoners in September 2015 in a Champions League tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv. He was subsequently loaned to Dutch clubs Vitesse Arnhem and Ajax Amsterdam before being transferred to Olympique Lyonnais.
Traore, whose elder brother Alain was also an international, moved back to England in 2020 when he signed for Aston Villa.
FIFA world ranking Dec. 2021: 60
How they qualified: Top place team in Group B, ahead of Malawi, Uganda and South Sudan.
Cape Verde Islands:
Previous appearances in finals: (2) 2013, 2015
Best performance: Quarter-finallists 2013
Coach: Bubista
Pedro Brito Leitao, known as Bubista, played 14 years for Cape Verde as a defender, captaining the national team, while playing club football in Angola and Spain, before moving on to a coaching career.
He worked at local clubs Mindelense, Academica Mindelo, Sporting Praia and Batuque, winning regional and national championships.
He was appointed coach in January 2020, taking over from Rui Aguas.
Key player: Ryan Mendes. Age: 31. Forward.
Mendes moved from Cape Verde as a promising junior to France, where he played Ligue 2 football with Le Havre and then in Ligue 1 with Lille.
His international debut came at age 20 and his 55 caps is the most for any Cape Verde international, including appearances at both the 2013 and 2015 African Cup of Nations finals.
He captained the team in their World Cup qualifiers earlier this year, when Cape Verde came close to upsetting Nigeria, while he has moved on in club football to play at Al Nasr in Dubai.
FIFA world ranking Dec. 2021: 73
How they qualified: Runner-up in Group F, behind Cameroon but ahead of Rwanda and Mozambique.
Ethiopia:
Previous appearances in finals: (10) 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1982, 2013
Best performance: Winners 1962
Coach: Wubetu Abate
Abate made his coaching reputation in the Ethiopian league after taking Ethiopia Bunna to the league title in 2011. It set up a chance to coach in neighbouring Sudan, followed by a return home and stints at Hawassa City, Fasil Kenema and Sebeta City.
He took over as Ethiopia coach in September 2020, signing a two-year contract and replacing compatriot Abraham Mebratu.
Key player: Getaneh Kebede Age: 29 Forward
Kebede is a rarity among Ethiopian footballers in that he has played at a foreign club, notably at Bidvest Wits and University of Pretoria in the South African top flight between 2013-16.
Back in his home country, he has established himself as the top marksman in the local league and also as captain of the national team.
FIFA world ranking Dec 2021: 137
How they qualified: Runners-up in Group K, behind Ivory Coast but ahead of Madagascar and Niger
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