DIRECT. Cameroon – Burkina Faso: follow the opening match of the CAN live

16:56 – The teams on the lawn

Cameroon and Burkina Faso made their debut in the Olembé stadium, where 48,000 spectators were seated. It is the hour of the hymns with first that of the Stallions and behind that of the Indomitable Lions.

4:55 pm – Act III

Cameroon and Burkina Faso have already met twice in the final phase of the CAN. Already in 1998, they faced each other at the opening of the competition. Cameroon won thanks to a goal from Tchami in the first period (1-0). In 2017, the Indomitable Lions and the Stallions were neutralized in the group stage, Moukandjo opened the scoring for the Cameroonians in the first period before Dayo equalized at the dawn of the last quarter of an hour (1-1) .

16:50 – Toni is wary of Burkina Faso

“Burkina Faso has climbed several levels in terms of quality and competitive level. In qualifying for the World Cup, they have played twice against Algeria and have not lost a match against the one who holds the CAN title”, explained the coach of Cameroon “Toni”.

4:45 p.m. – Rekindling the flame of 2017

In 2019, Burkina Faso failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. His last participation in the CAN dates back to 2017. In Gabon, Bertrand Traoré and his teammates had climbed to the semi-final, where they had failed on penalties against Egypt, future winner (1-1, 3- 4 tab).

16:42 – The starting lineup of Burkina Faso

For his entry into the running, Kamou Malo had to deal with the cases of Covid to establish his starting XI. The selection of Burkina Faso aligns a team in 4-3-3 with Tapsoba in tip, supported by Traoré, Bayala and Sangaré. Guira and Touré will form the duo for recovery. In the axis of the defense, Dayo and Yago will be in charge of maintaining access to the surface. Kaboré and Malo will animate the corridors.

16:40 – Erase the failure of 2019

In 2019, during the last edition, Cameroon stopped in the round of 16, defeated by Nigeria from Ighalo, author of a double (2-3). In the group stage, with one victory and two draws, the Indomitable Lions finished 2nd, ahead of the goal difference by Ghana.

16:35 – Cameroon, second African nation

Cameroon is the second most successful African nation on the continent. The Indomitable Lions have triumphed five times in the African Cup of Nations (CAN). Only Egypt has more success in the event with seven trophies.

4:30 p.m. – Against a backdrop of controversy

Preparation for the opening match took a turn for Burkina Faso to say the least. “We have four to five cases of Covid, especially senior players, we are not going to name names. The day before the match, that calls everything into question, but we have confidence in the players who will replace them”, explained in a press conference the assistant coach of the team, Firmin Sanou, specifying that he was replacing his head coach, Kamou Malo, for the pre-match press conference, because it was also positive. An almost normal situation in these times of expansion of the epidemic under the effect of the appearance of the Omicron variant except for the context. Indeed, the Burkinabé selection deplores the conditions of screening. On Friday, a first medical team presented itself to the Stallions who refused to submit to the tests on the pretext that the team in question had not been sent by CAF (African Football Confederation). It was not until 10 p.m. that the people commissioned by the continental institution finally arrived to carry out the tests. A hazardous management which did not fail to provoke the ire of Bertrand Traoré and his teammates.

16:27 – Starting eleven from Cameroon

For his first CAN 2022 match, Toni has chosen to align his captain Aboubakar at the forefront with Toko-Ekambi and Ngamaleu at his side. Oum, Zambou Anguissa and Kunde will be associated in the middle. Behind, Onana returns to the cage. Ngadeu and Onguéné will form the central axis with Fai and Tolo on the sides.

#ECHOSDELATANIERE ????????????

⚽ ???? MATCH DAY

The incoming XI of #LionsIndomptables
# CANTOTALENERGIES2021#Cameron ???????? ???? ???????? #Burkina Faso

⏲️ 5:00 p.m.
???? ️ Olembe Stadium#CMRBUR#GoLions#LetsRoarTogether#GoTheLions pic.twitter.com/IKmkO4ARod

– The Official Indomitable Lions (@LIndomptables) January 9, 2022

16:25 – Cameroon is aiming only for victory

Just before the kick off of the 33rd CAN, the Cameroon coach did not hide his ambitions and those of his team. At home, the Indomitable Lions are aiming for the title and nothing else. “We have only one way: to win, to win and to win. That’s what I was put on the table when I signed my contract: to reach at least the CAN final, to do everything to win it and also qualify the team for the next World Cup “, told AFP Antonio Conceiçao, known as “Toni”.

4:20 p.m. – In the locker room

Serious things will start soon. While waiting for their entry on the field, the players will take their places in the locker rooms where everything has been prepared for the occasion.

Enthusiasm is in the air! ????

# TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #CMRBFA
# CAN2021 pic.twitter.com/3Yv8Zqi1Dx

– # TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 ???? – FR (@caf_online_FR) January 9, 2022

4:15 p.m. – Fifty years later

This is only the second time that Cameroon has organized the Africa Cup of Nations. The first was fifty years ago in 1972. The competition was then won by the Congo, who surprised the host country in the semi-finals before winning against Mali. The Indomitable Lions were third.

????????????

LIONS. ROAR! Tea # AFCON2021 is here! ????

# TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #CMRBFA | @FecafootOfficie pic.twitter.com/A8P2TOCa5K

– # TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 ???? (@CAF_Online) January 9, 2022

16:13 – The opening ceremony is over

The Olembé stadium vibrated to the rhythm of the opening ceremony. Launched at the beginning of the afternoon, the latter has just ended in Yaoundé and the spectators, who have come in large numbers, are now waiting for the big show to begin with the first CAN match between Cameroon and Burkina Faso.

The opening ceremony of CAN 2021 is launched ???????????? # AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/OORC0xXLkY

– FOOTBALL-TIME⭐ (@Footballtime___) January 9, 2022

16:10 – Three years ago, the Algerian coronation

Three years ago, the Africa Cup of Nations, organized in Egypt, was won by Algeria of Ryiad Mahrez. Savior of his country in the semi-final with a goal scored at the end of added time against Nigeria (2-1), the Manchester City player had actively participated in the victorious campaign of his family, ended with a narrow success against Senegal ( 1-0).

16:05 – An Algerian arbitral body

The match will be refereed by Algerian Mustapha Ghorbal. He will be assisted by his compatriots Abdelhak Etchiali and Mokrane Gourari. Egyptian Mahmoud El-Banna will officiate as fourth referee, while Moroccans Adil Zourak and Zakaria Brinsi will be in charge of the VAR.