Burkina Faso and Cameroon will both be looking to end the Africa Cup of Nations on a high when they meet in the third-place playoff at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Saturday 5 February 2022 with a kick-off at 19:00 GMT earlier than previously scheduled, after organisers moved the game forward from Sunday without actually giving an explicit reason for doing so.
Seven-time champions Egypt dumped the Indomitable Lions out in Thursday’s semi-final on penalty shootout. But they can still hold their heads up high if they can down Burkina Faso in Yaounde, after their opponents were defeated by Senegal in midweek.
Also Read : EGYPT TO MEET SENEGAL IN FINAL AFTER DEFEATING CAMEROON ON PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Competing for third place is not something that the five-time African champions will be overjoyed with. But there is nonetheless national pride on the line. Coach Toni Conceico will also see this as an opportunity to give a run to the fringe members of the squad and test out new combinations, especially with a 2022 World Cup qualification playoff tie against Algeria set for next month.
Burkina Faso underlined their status as a football powerhouse on the continent by reaching the final four of the AFCON for the third time in the past nine years.
The Stallions wait for an AFCON crown goes on after losing to Senegal in the semis. But they can replicate their third-place finish in 2017 by defeating Cameroon.
Coach Kamou Malo made no excuses for his side’s defeat, but hopes they will recover to put in a strong performance in this clash for the bronze medals.
“I congratulate my boys on this adventure.” Said the Burkina Faso mentor.
“We are not going to give up. There is a medal to go for. We will remobilise just to go.” Added the Malo.
In head-to-head stats, Burkina Faso and Cameroon have met in 10 matches across all competitions dating back as far as 1998. The Indomitable Lions have claimed five wins compared to one for the Stallions, while four games have been drawn.
The teams’ most recent meeting was in the opening game of this very AFCON tournament, with Cameroon coming from behind to win 2-1 at the Olembe Stadium on January 9, thanks to a brace of penalties from Vincent Aboubakar. Burkina Faso’s opener was netted by Gustavo Sangare.
Several changes are expected for both teams, particularly with Cameroon playing only 48 hours after their semi-final that went the distance against Egypt.
Especially for Cameroon, young goalkeeper Simon Omossola could step in for the Lions while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Pierre Kunde will hope to come into the XI, having not been involved in the Egypt defeat. Vincent Aboubakar could remain in the attack to bolster his top scorer credentials.