Izuchukwu OkosiCameroon and Burkina Faso finished in first and second places in Group A of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after their games Monday evening against Cape Verde and Ethiopia respectively.
Cape Verde restored parity in a second half equaliser to hold hosts Cameroon to an entertaining 1-1 draw.
Tournament’s leading scorer Vincent Aboubakar had given the Indomitable Lions the lead six minutes before the break at the electric Olembe Stadium.
The Cameroon captain latched into 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 a. D watch the roll into the net to level matters from Rocha Santos’ pull-back.
Burkina Faso qualified to the knockout phase despite the 1-1 draw against Ethiopia in the final Group A match played at the Stade Omnisports de Bafoussam on Monday.
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.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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