Cameroon hoping to make history
FRANCEVILLE – Sadio Mane’s decisive penalty miss allowed Cameroon to knock fancied Senegal out of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in the quarterfinals on Saturday and join Burkina Faso in the last four.
Cameroon beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in southern Gabon, in the day’s second game following a 2-0 win for Burkina Faso against Tunisia in Libreville earlier.
Liverpool star Mane was the only player to miss from the spot in the shoot-out, with Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa saving his effort.
Vincent Aboubakar then stepped up to score and take the Indomitable Lions through to the last four at the expense of a Senegal side who were one of the favourites coming into the tournament.
Cameroon also beat Senegal on penalties in the final of the 2002 Cup of Nations.
It is the first time Cameroon reached the last four since 2008, when they lost to Egypt in the final in Ghana.
“We have the possibility to write a beautiful page in our history and we do not want to stop here,” Cameroon captain Benjamin Moukandjo said.
“We’re going one game at a time.”
Senegal had enjoyed the better of the chances in normal time, but could not find a way past Ondoa, who was in inspired form.
“Our performance was good. We tried to play football against a side who were well organised and got men behind the ball,” said Senegal coach Aliou Cisse. “We know about penalties. It comes down to luck. They won it and I wish them good luck.”
Senegal’s elimination means the three men who made up the podium for the 2016 African Footballer of the Year award have all been knocked out of Afcon, with Mane joining Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and Gabon’s PierreEmerick Aubameyang heading for the exit.
Nobody had expected to see Cameroon go far after their build-up to the tournament was marred by the refusal of several key players to accept call-ups.
Few tipped Burkina Faso to go far either, but the 2013 runners-up secured their place in the last four by getting the better of Tunisia with two late goals. –