YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Burkina Faso clinched a place in the last 16 at the African Cup of Nations behind host Cameroon, while Cape Verde must wait to see if it goes through as one of the four best third-place teams.
A number of big teams, including Senegal, Ghana, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia still haven’t confirmed their places in the round of 16, and defending champion Algeria is last in its group and in deep trouble.
There were surprise results in the first week of the tournament, none bigger than Algeria’s stunning 1-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
A draw against Malawi will be enough to send Senegal through from Group B. Malawi would be rewarded with a place in the knockout stages of the African Cup for the first time if it pulls off another shock, as well as the year’s supply of eggs for each of the players. A poultry company in Malawi announced it was offering that prize if the team creates history.
Senegal is Africa’s top-ranked team at No. 20 in the world. Malawi is ranked No. 129.
The top two in each group qualify automatically for the round of 16. There are also four places for the best third-place teams.
Burkina Faso draws with Ethiopia
Burkina Faso has qualified to the knockout phase of the AFCON 2021 despite the 1-1 draw against Ethiopia in the final Group A match played at the Stade Omnisports de Bafoussam, in Bafoussam, a city 300 kilometres (185 miles) north west of Yaounde.
The Stallions were looking for a win that would see them qualify automatically having collected 3 points in the recent victory over Cape Verde.
A draw was still good enough for as they were guaranteed to finish second depending on the results from the other game involving Cape Verde and Cameroon.
The Ibex had the first real opening of the match. Getaneh Kebede saw his attempt from inside the box is saved from Abubeker Nasir’s square pass on the left flank.
Dawa Dukele had another chance for Ethiopia but his shot from outside the box was dealt with by Burkina Faso Keeper Soufiane Ouedraogo.
However, it was Burkina Faso who took the lead with Cyrille Bayala finding the back of the net after being out through on goal by Adama Guira.
The Ajaccio Midfielder gave goalkeeper Balcha no chance with a well taken left footed shot and register his first goal of the tournament.
Burkina Faso went into the break with a goal to the good.
A huge team talk by Ethiopian Coach Abate Wubetu during the interval seemed to have worked as the Ibex came charging in the second half.
The pressure earned them a penalty after defender Steeve Yago handled in the box. Skipper of the side Getaneh Kebede slotted home the penalty to put Ethiopia back on level terms.
With that goal, Burkina Faso coach Kamou Malo was keeping keen eye on the other Group A match between Cameroon and Cape Verde.
Both sides had chances to score the winner late on in the game. but none could find the breakthrough.
The Stallions of Burkina Faso managed to go through as runners up in Group A on head to head rule ahead of Cape Verde whom they beat, with both teams having 4 points.
“We are happy to qualify, but we have to change a lot because we missed many chances today. We have to draw our lessons from the group stage, and to look at our tactics as I know it will be different in our next matches,” Burkina Faso coach Kamou Malo said according to cafonline.
It was not an easy group, but I am glad we surmounted the challenges and now we can plan once again. We are ready to play any opponents in the next round,” Malo added.
Cape Verde snatches point
Cape Verde scored a second-half equaliser to hold hosts Cameroon to an entertaining 1-1 draw in Group A.
The stalemate confirmed Cameroon finished at the top of the group ahead of Burkina Faso on 4 points. Cape Verde is third leveled on points with Burkina Faso while Ethiopia finished bottom with a point.
Vincent Aboubakar had given the Indomitable Lions the lead six minutes before the break at the electric Olembe Stadium.
The Cameroon captain pounce on Desty Moukoudi’s header to blast an unstoppable left footed low drive into the Cape Verde goal.
The Blue Sharks rallied back to rescue a point with a well worked goal on 52 minutes boost his side’s chances of a last 16 place.
Substitute Gabby Rodrigues stylishly flicked past the helpless Onana to level matters from Rocha Santos’ pull-back.
The Indomitable Lions made three changes from the win over Ethiopia in their second match at the Olembe stadium in Yaoundé. Desty Moukoudi, one of the players coming into the side saw his header missed the target from Fai Collins’ inviting cross inside the opening minute.
Cameroon continued to force their way in midfield and Moumi Ngamaleu dispossessed Tavares in the middle of the park to burst into the box only for Cape Verde to clear.
Aboubakar came close for Cameroon after the half hour mark, Ngadeu played him through but his fierce low drive forced s save Dias.
Aboubakar found the back of the on 39 minutes with a sumptuous left footed close range effort to beat Dias and register his fifth goal of the African Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021.
The West Africans started the second half bright and they leveled matters seven minutes after the restart through Rodrigues.
The Indomitable Lions continued to create chances but lacked the cutting edge to make it three wins from three matches in the group.
Aboubakar missed the goal from close range before Clinton Njie and Samuel Gouet saw their efforts turned away by the brilliant Cape Verde defense.
“We achieved our first goal which was qualification in the next round. We wanted to finish the group stage with a victory, but the Cape Verde team was good and did not allow us that,” Cameroon’s coach Antonio Conceicao said.
“Now we have to prepare well the round of 16 here in Olembe with more recovery. Against Cape Verde, the game was centered in the midfield, but on our side, we played the depths with opportunities without however managing to worsen the mark,” Conceicao added.
“This game meant a lot to me and my team, because we knew it was going to be a difficult game against the host country. We managed a positive result even though we wanted to end this group stage with a victory,” Cape Verde’s assistant coach Humberto Bettencourt said.
Wednesday’s Fixtures
9:00pm Egypt vs Sudan
9:00pm Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria
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