Burkina Faso (0)1
Dayo 75
Cameroon (1)1
Moukandjo 35
Stade de l’Amitie, Gabon – Group A might have finished it’s first round of matches with all four teams equal on a point and a goal each. But there is a gap between Cameroon and Burkina Faso, who look set to be the dominant pair, while Gabon and Guinea-Bissau could be blown over.
The eight players – Joel Matip, Eric Choupo-Moting, Andre Onana, Guy Ndy Asembe, Allan Nyom, Maxime Poundje, Andre Zambo and Ibrahim Amadou – who snubbed Cameroon could have done the nation the world of good.
The inconsistent and temperamental Cameroon side has been replaced by a driven and united group that’s looking to prove that they deserve to be here and make the infamous eight wish they hadn’t shown their country the middle finger.
The Indomitable Lions swaggered in an open-match that saw them and Burkina Faso give as much as they got. It was a welcomed change compared to the opening match between the hosts Gabon and Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) debutants Guinea-Bissau who produced a cagey affair. The disappointment of the hosts hung in the air like the humidity that made those in the stands sweat without doing much.
The person in charge of playing the national anthems, probably still disappointed by that draw, delayed playing them. Silence instead of Burkina Faso’s anthem played at this venue. When it was Cameroon’s turn, the strong contingency of their fans sang it without the help of the silent sound system. When the anthems were eventually played, the Burkinabe were taking a team picture and the Cameroonians on the stands were already on a high and sang along to it.
CAF and the local organising committee quickly apologised for the error.
The Cameroonians weren’t bothered, they were louder than the hosts who left this venue dejected. Some of them stayed behind to watch this game. Those who stayed behind were taught a lesson on how to cheer for your team. The Indomitable Lions didn’t disappoint that much, going ahead with a stunning free-kick from Benjamin Moukandjo. Christian Bassogog could have made it two when he was exquisitely set-up one-on-one against the goalkeeper. But Kouakou Koffi read that well. He quickly went off his line to snuff the danger out.
It was a crucial stop because it helped the Burkinabe go into halftime trailing by a reasonable score. They did enough in the first half to show that they can come back from this match, and they did.
Betrand Traore led the Stallions well upfront, supported by his brother Alain and Prejuce Nakoulma with Jonathan Pitroipa as the playmaker. But it took the centreback, Issoufou Dayo, to equalise for the Stallions and give them the point.
It was 23-year-old Clinton N'Jie however who stole the show, despite his big miss where he needed to just direct the ball into the back of the net after Moukandjo’s shot was parried onto his path. N’Jie would probably have started from the bench had Choupo-Moting not abruptly retired from international football to make his snub permanent. He took his chance and made the most of it, tormenting the Stallions’ defenders with his pace and skills. The Indomitable Lions did all of this while their star player Vincent Aboubakar sitting on the bench. It was a huge statement, that this Cameroon team doesn’t have any stars. It could be just what they need to bring back the glory days that have eluded them. But there is still a lot that needs to be done for them to be worthy of being African champions. What was inspiring was how they played despite missing a number of key players.
*Njabulo Ngidi is in Gabon courtesy of Supersport