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By Tata Mbunwe
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have grabbed a bronze medal after a 5-3 win against Burkina Faso in the third position game at the Totalenergies AFCON 2021.
The battle for the third position in the competition was played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium this Saturday, February 6.
Burkina Faso had been winning 3-0 and was on the verge of clinching the bronze medal but, thanks to timely goals from Bahoken – at the 70th minute and Vincent Abubakar – at the 80th and 84th minutes of play time, Cameroon equalised.
This was to the dismay of fans who were already feeling heart broken and disappointed when the Lions went into half time with a 2-0 defeat.
The game has again brought Cameroon’s top goal scorer Vincent Abubakar to the lime light, as he scored 2 goals to mark a total of eight goals scored in the competition. This is the second highest number of goals recorded by a single player in an AFCON tournament.
Burkina Faso scored its first two goals during the first half of the game during which most of Cameroon’s key players, including top goal scorers, Vincent Abubakar and Toko Ekambi, were absent.
They clinched a third goal barely four minutes after the second half resumed to seal the third position deal.
However, Bahoken broke the Indomitable Lions’ goalless deadlock at the 70th minute to give Cameroon it’s first goal.
Meanwhile top goal scorer, Vincent Abubakar, who only joined during half time, scored the second and third at the 84th and 86th minutes respectively to secure an equaliser.
Italian Coach Antonio Concencao has been blamed for having exempted key Cameroonian players out during the first half and using only players who have been at the reserve bench throughout previous games of the tournament.
Saturday’s game is the second time Cameroon is defeating Burkina Faso in the ongoing AFCON tournament.
The tournament’s opening match was played by both teams at the Olembe Stadium on Jan. 6 during which Cameroon Edged them 2-0.
The Stallions of Burkina Faso have clashed with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 11 times during which they lost six games, equalised four and won one.
The team’s only victory over the Indomitable Lions was during an international friendly on 27 May during which they won 1-0.
