The final roar of Olembé stadium sounded like a phew!

The Indomitable Lions had enough margin over the Stallions, reduced by the forfeit of five players affected by the Covid late two days before the opening match of the 33rd CAN.

Logical favorite, host country and five times winner, Cameroon did not teach a lesson, he notably played a timid start to the match.

Despite the energy of full-backs Tolo Nouhou and Collins Fai, the activity of Frank Anguissa or the strong nerves of Aboubakar, it will be necessary to show more control.

André Onana, in particular, did not honor the tradition of the immense Cameroonian goalkeepers, Thomas Nkono, Joseph-Antoine Bell or Idriss Kameni.

Onana's failed exit

His missed exit let Gustavo Sangaré open the scoring (25th), then the two penalties from the captain (43rd, 45th + 4) erased the error of Ajax Amsterdam's goal.

Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana misses himself and allows Gustavo Sangaré (# 20) to open the scoring for Burkina Faso, January 9, 2022 in Yaoundé KENZO TRIBOUILLARD AFP

But the Burkinabés also made mistakes, on penalties, a hip blow from Bertrand Traoré on Frank Anguissa offered the first penalty to Cameroon, after correction of the video refereeing, and an uncontrolled tackle from Issoufou Dayo who broke the left side stirring Tolo Nouhou.

The Indomitable Lions controlled the ball, but without sufficient application, like the poorly shot set pieces by Nicolas Ngamaleu.

The Lions were too eager on their opportunities, like Vincent Aboubakar (9th) and Karl Toko-Ekambi (12th).

The Stallions punished this lack of intensity in their first action, Gustavo Sangaré finding himself free at the far post after Onana's failed headline.

A dramatic turn of events in Olembé!

On the same action a few seconds earlier, Tolo had already saved on his line a powerful header from captain Bertrand Traoré.

But the coolness of Vincent Aboubakar made the Olembé stadium roar twice: a penalty on the left, one on the right.

The captain scored the goal offering Cameroon the fifth CAN in the final against Egypt (2-1), in 2017.

The Olembé stadium, where the workers were still busy for the finishes a few hours before kick-off, could be relieved at the break.

Arrived long minutes before kick-off, the supporters had the encouragement that itched!

They were able to celebrate Onana, who redeemed himself by deflecting a curved free kick from Traoré (48th) and a point blank shot from Adama Guira (55th).

The essentials for Cameroon were assured.

© 2022 AFP