It took 70 minutes of play for the Indomitable Lions to recover from the disappointment, this cruel elimination against Egypt on penalties (0-0, 3-1 on pens)...

After more than an hour of play in fact, Cameroon was at its worst, victim of a humiliation at home and brilliant Burkinabe stallions of realism.

But the entrants made the difference, finding heart, like captain Vincent Aboubakar, author of a sensational double in three minutes (85th, 88th) to equalize just before the penalty shootout, after the reduction of the score by Stéphane Bahoken (72nd).

The Cameroonian striker scored his 7th and 8th goals of the competition, which he will no doubt finish as top scorer.

Symbol of the bewildering reversal of the match, it was goalkeeper André Onana who was the hero of the penalty shootout, deflecting an attempt, when he had been guilty of a huge error in the first period, offering a goal in Burkina.

This small final, poster identical to that of the opening match of January 9, finally gave birth to a similar scenario, reversed by the locals, and by Aboubakar, already double scorer a month earlier (2-1).

The broken momentum of the Stallions

Five times winner of the CAN, Cameroon ends its competition on a high note, 24 hours before the Egypt-Senegal final, Sunday (8:00 p.m.).

An unexpected resurrection, just two days after their semi-final, where Burkina Faso, beaten by Senegal (3-1), had had an extra day of rest.

Burkina Faso players beaten by Cameroon on penalties for 3rd place in the CAN in Yaoundé, February 5, 2022 Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD AFP

For the Cameroonians, the pride demonstrated on Saturday will be able to serve, less than two months before a decisive dam for the qualification for the World Cup-2022, against Algeria, another disappointed with the CAN.

For the Stallions of Burkina Faso, who were aiming for a place on the podium for the third time in their history, the outcome is cruel, after a crazy match, marked by numerous injuries, and the replacement just before the session of shots on goal from goalkeeper Farid Ouedraogo, injured.

The Burkinabè had however achieved a faultless start to the game, scoring on their first opportunity, a recovery from Steeve Yago after a cross from Issa Kaboré (24th), then benefiting from an improbable error from Onana, diverting in his goal a harmless cross from Kaboré (43rd).

Cameroon, carried by a double from its captain Vincent Aboubakar, won 3rd place in the CAN at the expense of Burkina Faso in Yaoundé, February 5, 2022 Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD AFP

And Djibril Ouattara (49th) had come to complete what then looked like a humiliation … Before the meeting took a completely crazy turn, and the Lions became indomitable again.

© 2022 AFP