Cameroon, Burkina Faso reach African Cup semis

LIBREVILLE, Gabon (Reuters) – Burkina Faso and Cameroon booked semifinal berths at the African Nations Cup on Saturday as another page was ripped out of the form book when the latest favorites of the tournament were eliminated.

Sadio Mane, one of the star attractions in Gabon, was the only player to miss in a shootout as Cameroon knocked out heavily fancied Senegal in Franceville, just hours after Burkina Faso struck late to eliminate Tunisia 2-0 in Libreville.

A distraught Mane, who had been outstanding throughout the two hours of action, had to be helped off the pitch by his teammates after his side were edged 5-4 on spot kicks following a goalless draw.

After the first four players from each side had found the target, Mane took Senegal’s fifth kick, but the Liverpool forward’s effort was saved by young ’keeper Fabrice Ondoa and Vincent Aboubakar slotted home to win the game for Cameroon.

The Indomitable Lions had been given little chance in Gabon after their squad was overhauled in the months prior to the tournament and eight players then opted to stay behind with their clubs rather than travel to the Nations Cup.

Senegal’s early departure follows those of holder Ivory Coast and equally hyped Algeria, leaving the outcome of the three-week tournament wide open.

Cameroon will stay in Franceville for Thursday’s semifinal against either the Democratic Republic of Congo or Ghana, who met in Oyem on Sunday.

Burkina Faso awaits the winner of the last quarterfinal between Egypt and Morocco in Port Gentil in Wednesday’s first semifinal in the Gabonese capital.