AFCON 2021
Vincent gets the finals off to a flier
VINCENT ABOUBAKAR ROUND-UP rose to the occasion as the Cameroon skipper at 80 per cent for held his nerve twice to Cameroon clashes and at snatch a 2-1 win over 60 per cent for all other Burkina Faso in the games across the finals. tournament opener. Supporters must also
An acrobatic volley be double-vaccinated from Gustavo Sangare and have a negative test. put the Burkinabe ahead It meant that the midway through the first Burkinabe were without half in Yaounde. boss Kamou Malo and
But two penalties from six players because of Aboubakar turned the positive tests – with a game around for the number of players set to hosts before half-time. miss today’s matches.
The Africa Cup of Despite that, a lively Nations was postponed crowd helped create a last summer amid the good atmosphere in the Covid outbreak but this Olembe Stadium with year’s event was still Aboubakar’s goals played in the shadow of pumping the home a worldwide pandemic. support up.
Organisers took And the opener was precautions to protect followed by Group A’s fans, staff and players other clash, Ethiopia with the dugouts taking on Cape Verde. regularly sanitised by The Walias made a men in hazmat suits. horror start when
But the timing of the Yared Bayeh picked up a tournament has received straight red in 12 minutes. criticism from clubs Cape Verde took the across Europe – notably advantage right on the those missing key stroke of half-time when players to the event – Julio Tavares found the with attendances capped net and held on to win.
RESULTS AND FIXTURES AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS GROUP A