Africa Cup of Nations
Burkina FasoBurkina Faso1CameroonCameroon1

Afcon 2017: Burkina Faso hit back to hold Cameroon

Issoufou Dayo
Issoufou Dayo celebrates after earning Burkina Faso a point

Burkina Faso fought back to secure a 1-1 draw with Cameroon on the opening day of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Cameroon took the lead on 35 minutes when Benjamin Moukandjo superbly curled a free-kick into the left corner.

Both sides created good chances, with one of the clearest falling to Clinton N'Jie who shot wide from six yards.

The Burkinabe took full advantage when goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa could only parry a free-kick and Issoufou Dayo nodded in the leveller.

Cameroon had been given numerous warnings as the Burkinabe repeatedly threatened from set-pieces - and the Indomitable Lions will also rue their inability to finish their opponents off when they had their own chances.

In contrast to the earlier Group A game between hosts Gabon and Guinea-Bisau, which was also played in Libreville's Stade de l'Amitie, this match had plenty of action.

Ondoa saved well from Prejuce Nakoulma's near-post poke and Bakary Kone fired the rebound wide. Kone later had the ball nicked away from his head when he looked set to score, while Nakoulma was also denied a second time, by Ondoa's athleticism.

Benjamin Moukandjo strikes a sweet free-kick to score the opening goal
Benjamin Moukandjo strikes a sweet free-kick to score the opening goal

At the other end, N'Jie forced a smart, low save from Burkinabe keeper Herve Koffi, who later surged out of his penalty area and produced a stunning tackle with an outstretched leg to stop a clean-through Christian Bassogog.

N'Jie, on loan at Marseille from Tottenham, was guilty of the worst miss of the match after he collected the rebound from a fierce long-range shot by Jacques Zoua and shot wide with the goal gaping.

As Cameroon's ill-discipline presented the Burkinabe with more and more free-kicks, there was a growing sense that would do well to to see out the victory.

And so it proved when Dayo finally putting the finishing touch to a set-piece.

Cameroon's missing parts

Cameroon arrived at the tournament without eight players who rejected the call-up. One of those absent is Liverpool defender Joel Matip and it looks like he will be sorely missed. A lack of organisation, discipline and decisiveness in defence cost the Indomitable Lions an opening-match victory. They might have got away with it had they taken their opportunities in front of goal. So there is work to do at both ends of the pitch.

Stallions harness power

Burkina Faso were happy to stand and trade blows with Cameroon, even though at times they left themselves open to a knockout punch - especially on the counter-attack. They showed their physical presence at free-kicks and that will prove a threat to any team. But star man Bertrand Traore had a sloppy game, giving the ball away more than he would have liked, and can do more to assert himself on the game. But avoiding defeat will be a big confidence booster.

Line-ups

Burkina Faso

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 16Koffi
  • 5Malo
  • 14Dayo
  • 4Koné
  • 20Coulibaly
  • 18Kabore
  • 8TraoreSubstituted forSundy Zongoat 74'minutes
  • 19TraoreSubstituted forDiawaraat 61'minutesBooked at 86mins
  • 11PitroipaSubstituted forBancéat 86'minutes
  • 10Traore
  • 7Nakoulma

Substitutes

  • 1Sawadogo
  • 2Yago
  • 3Paro
  • 6Bouba Saré
  • 9Diawara
  • 12Guira
  • 13Koanda
  • 15Bancé
  • 17Sundy Zongo
  • 21Bayala
  • 22Blati Touré
  • 23Sanou

Cameroon

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Ondoa
  • 2Mabouka MaoussiBooked at 15mins
  • 5Ngadeu-NgadjuiBooked at 89mins
  • 4Teikeu
  • 6Oyongo Bitolo
  • 13BassogogSubstituted forToko Ekambiat 84'minutes
  • 14MandjeckBooked at 63mins
  • 15Siani
  • 7N'JieSubstituted forSalliat 77'minutes
  • 8MoukandjoBooked at 56mins
  • 9Zoua Daogari

Substitutes

  • 3N'Koulou
  • 10Aboubakar
  • 11Salli
  • 12Boya
  • 16Goda
  • 17Sutchuin-Djoum
  • 18Tambe
  • 19Fai
  • 20Toko Ekambi
  • 21Djetei
  • 22Ngwen
  • 23Mbokwe
Referee:
Janny Sikazwe

Match Stats

Home TeamBurkina FasoAway TeamCameroon
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home17
Away14
Shots on Target
Home5
Away7
Corners
Home4
Away1
Fouls
Home16
Away27

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Burkina Faso 1, Cameroon 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Burkina Faso 1, Cameroon 1.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Prejuce Nakoulma (Burkina Faso).

  4. Post update

    Ernest Mabouka (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Patrick Arnaud Malo (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Ambroise Oyongo (Cameroon).

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Patrick Arnaud Malo (Burkina Faso) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.

  8. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Aristide Bancé (Burkina Faso) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alain Traoré.

  9. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Alain Traoré (Burkina Faso) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  10. Booking

    Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui (Cameroon) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  11. Post update

    Aristide Bancé (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui (Cameroon).

  13. Post update

    Aristide Bancé (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Georges Mandjeck (Cameroon).

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Burkina Faso. Aristide Bancé replaces Jonathan Pitroipa.

  16. Booking

    Banou Diawara (Burkina Faso) is shown the yellow card for dangerous play.

  17. Post update

    Dangerous play by Banou Diawara (Burkina Faso).

  18. Post update

    Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Charles Kaboré (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Edgar Salli (Cameroon).

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Burkina Faso10101101
2Cameroon10101101
3Gabon10101101
4Guinea-Bissau10101101

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Algeria00000000
2Senegal00000000
3Tunisia00000000
4Zimbabwe00000000

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1DR Congo00000000
2Ivory Coast00000000
3Morocco00000000
4Togo00000000

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Egypt00000000
2Ghana00000000
3Mali00000000
4Uganda00000000
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