By Bakah Derick
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and The Stallions of Burkina Faso have made it to the round of four at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon 2021.
Dango Ouattara scored at the third minute of first half additional time on Saturday 29 January 2022 at the Roumdé Adjia stadium in Garoua to ensure his team returns from the break from a superior posture. They kept the score till full time to clinch a precious semi finals ticket.
After qualifying his country for the third AFCON semi final in their last five participations, Ouattara shall miss their next fixture as he was sent off after his elbow hit Tunisia's Ali Maaloul on the face in the 82nd minute.
The Stallions will face either the Teranga Lions of Senegal or Equatorial Guinea expected to clash on Sunday.
Fellow group stage opponent and host nation Cameroon showed the way out to The Gambia.
Karl Toko Ekambi connected with a cross from Fai Collins to head the ball into the net via the top corner of the post to put the lions ahead.
Seven minutes later, Karl Toko Ekambi made things more complicated for The Gambians sneaking in another to put Cameroon on two.
The underrated Group A produced three eight finalists of the tournament with Cape Verde finishing as one of the best losers. They will be beaten 2-0 by Senagal as they finished with nine men.
Knocked out 3-2 by the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the eighth finals of the last tournament in Egypt 2019, Cameroon though host and 2017 champions didn't come across to anyone as favourites. The Stallions who were third during the 2017 edition, didn't make it to the land of the pyramids. Cape Verde and Ethiopia with very little AFCON success history helped to move the group from public eye.
The presence of two teams from the group at the Semis is certainly one of the many surprises of this tournament.