Host Cameroon rallies to win African Cup of Nations opener

Host Cameroon got here from behind with two penalties within the house of eight minutes on the finish of the primary half to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 Sunday within the opening recreation of the African Cup of Nations.
Captain Vincent Aboubakar scored each penalties, calmly slotting the primary to the appropriate aspect of the purpose and the second to the left to finish a comeback that left house followers sighing with reduction.

Cameroon had waited out a three-year delay to host this African Cup after being stripped of the 2019 match after which seeing its 2021 internet hosting delayed a 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

FULL-TIME! ⏰ #CrewCameroon 2️⃣-1️⃣ #CrewBurkinaFaso
Cameroon earn all 3️⃣ factors regardless of being a purpose down close to the tip of the primary 45’ ✔️
The hosts imply enterprise 🦁 #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #CMRBFA pic.twitter.com/IhkEXJlxuN
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 9, 2022
It appeared the wait wouldn’t be value it when Gustavo Sangaré volleyed Burkina Faso into the lead within the twenty fourth minute at Olembe Stadium in Yaounde.
He scored after Burkina Faso had a header cleared off the road and hit the crossbar in the identical transfer.
But Burkina Faso misplaced the lead with two reckless items of defending on the finish of the primary half.
Bertrand Traoré barged into André-Frank Zambo Anguissa to offer Cameroon its first penalty, which was solely confirmed after referee Mustapha Ghorbal of Algeria consulted VAR.

👀 Keep calm ✔️⚽️ Score ✔️🕺 Celebrate accordingly ✔️
🇨🇲 Vincent Aboubakar lit up the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 opener in type! 🦁#AFCON2021 | #CMRBFA | #CrewCameroon pic.twitter.com/KWyUv2EPRY
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 9, 2022
VAR is being utilized in all video games on the African Cup for the primary time. It was used from the quarterfinals onwards on the final African Cup.
Soon after, Issoufou Dayo mistimed a sliding deal with to foul Nouhou Tolo and Aboubakar scored from the spot once more three minutes into first-half harm time.
VAR was within the highlight once more within the second half when there was a protracted evaluation to disallow a 3rd purpose for Cameroon for offside.

The African Cup formally began with a brief opening ceremony just a few hours earlier at Olembe Stadium. The continent’s soccer showpiece will probably be performed beneath the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic and amid a world surge in instances.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended the opening ceremony, as did 88-year-old Cameroon President Paul Biya, who has led the Central African nation since 1982.
Cape Verde performs Ethiopia within the different Group A recreation on the opening day.