Cameroon finish third with miraculous comeback against Burkina Faso
Third Place Play-off
Burkina Faso 3-3 Cameroon (Cameroon win 5-3 on penalties)
In a game that lacked quality but had its fair share of drama, Cameroon did the impossible to turn a topsy-turvy game on its head and beat Bukina Faso on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the bronze medal match at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Strikes from Steeve Yago and Djibril Ouattara sandwiched a calamitous Andre Onana own goal looked as though they were enough to secure the third-placed finish for Kamou Malo’s side, as three was very much the charm… or so it would seem.
A game where the tempo was marred by fouls from both sides and with a sheer lack of clear-cut chances, Burkina took the lead against the run of play, as left-back Yago popped up at the far post on 24 minutes to convert a sumptuous Issa Kabore cross as both full-backs combined to seize first blood.
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana practically threw the second into his own net as another Kabore cross caused bedlam; and after VAR had adjudged that the right-back kept the ball in play, Onana’s blushes were not spared as Burkina found themselves two up on the stroke of the interval.
It was three not long after: Ouattara powerfully nodding beyond the hapless Onana from a delightful Bertrand Traore inswinger, as Burkina Faso threatened to run riot and pile the embarrassment onto their Cameroonian counterparts
Antonio Oliveira threw on his stars from the bench in a desperate attempt to save the game, but as shots rained down on the Burkina goalmouth, the Indomitable Lions just couldn’t seem to force the issue as Burkina held firm.
Stephane Bahoken managed to strike from close range after a corner melee with 18 minutes to go, and Cameroon had that glimmer of hope, and boy, did they take it.
Not before Vincent Aboubakar had halved the two-goal deficit; nodding home from a Nicolas Ngamaleu corner to throw doubt into some Burkina Faso minds, but they held firm once more as Cameroon barraged.
The former Porto striker came up with the goods right at the death: capitalising on a fumble from goalkeeper Farid Ouedraogo, as he slid into an unguarded net to record an unforgettable comeback.
After initial confusion as to whether we’d have penalties or extra time, a shootout was agreed, and it would be Blati Toure who would miss the crucial penalty; third for Burkina Faso, as Onana finally made amends for his poor display in the initial 90 minutes, pulling off the save that would prove pivotal.
Ambroise Oyongo stepped up and dispatched the winning spot kick to write his name into Cameroonian history; to surely cap off one of the craziest games the AFCON has ever seen.
