Cameroon qualify for Africa Cup of nations with nervy victory over Burundi
Posted : 13 September 2023
Cameroon secured their place in the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a nerve-wracking 3-0 victory over Burundi in Garoua. The Indomitable Lions needed a win to guarantee qualification, and their triumph in this must-win match also ensured Namibia's qualification.
Despite their lower FIFA ranking, Burundi started the game positively. However, André Onana, making a notable return to the team, made crucial saves to keep Cameroon in the contest.
The breakthrough for Cameroon came early in the second half when Bryan Mbeumo capitalized on a defensive error, slotting the ball home just one minute after the restart.
The second goal followed in the 59th minute, with defender Christopher Wooh sweeping the ball into the net from close range. Wooh had initially missed a header from a corner by Karl Toko Ekambi, but the loose ball fell kindly for him to convert.
Cameroon sealed the victory deep into stoppage time when a clearance deflected off a defender, allowing captain Vincent Aboubakar to score the third goal.
Burundi, despite needing only a draw to qualify, couldn't find the net despite their commendable efforts. André Onana, who had returned to the team following a previous dispute with coach Rigobert Song, played a crucial role in securing the win with his key saves.
This victory marked Cameroon's first win since their 1-0 triumph over Brazil in Qatar during their last group game in December. With Group C decided, the lineup for the 24-team Africa Cup of Nations finals, taking place in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11 next year, is now complete.
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