At home and in front of its audience, Cameroon intends to launch its African Cup with fanfare, Sunday, January 9, against Burkina Faso during the opening match organized in Yaoundé.

The Indomitable Lions are among the favorites of the competition alongside the Egyptians, Senegalese and Algerians. With its five CAN on the clock, Cameroon intends to go as far as possible and shine at home. "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, "coach Antonio Conceiçao told AFP.

The 2nd training session of the #LionsIndomptables in Olembe, ANNEX A stadium on Wednesday, aimed to continue the preparation for the opening match against Burkina Faso with in addition a muscle building session.

# GoLions # LetsRoarTogether # GoLions pic.twitter.com/0OHh7wsZ5G

- The Official Indomitable Lions (@LIndomptables) January 5, 2022

"A team that works for its collective"

For this, the Portuguese technician can count on his star players, who are blazing in big European clubs, like Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting at Bayern Munich, André-Franck Zambo Anguissa in Naples, Karl Toko-Ekambi in Olympique Lyonnais or goalkeeper André Onana at Ajax Amsterdam. "There are things to improve but I consider that we have already reached a good level. We have some stars but I think that we are a team which is worth for its collective", estimates Antonio Conceiçao.

The president of the #FECAFOOT @SamuelEtoo was present at the training session of the Indomitable Lions this afternoon at the annex B stadium of Olembe.

The occasion for an exchange with coach Antonio Conceicao and Inter Milan's new recruit, goalkeeper André Onana.

pic.twitter.com/l7xv74fN2s

- Fecafoot-Officiel (@FecafootOfficie) January 6, 2022

Cameroonians can also benefit from the experience of legend Samuel Eto'o, recently propelled to the head of the country's federation, as the coach emphasizes: "What he has learned over the years as a player and by attending the upper echelons of football should bring significant improvement. "

Burkinabès in ambush

Even if they appear as the ogre of Group A, the Indomitable Lions will however have to be wary of their first opponents.

For the past ten years, Burkina Faso has been one of the teams that count in Africa.

Surprising finalists in 2013, third in 2017, the Stallions did not participate in the 2019 edition, but they come back with great ambitions.

Coach Kamou Malo will experience his first major competition at the head of the team, but he will be able to rely on the experienced Bertrand Traoré of Aston Villa.

Handicapped by repeated injuries since the start of the season, the captain will be present in Cameroon alongside his teammates.

🇧🇫 The Stallions of Burkina Faso are ready for # TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🐎 @ FBF226 |

# AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/IIH7v7hpXa

- CAF - FR (@caf_online_FR) January 7, 2022

Within the workforce, a new generation is also asserting itself like the nugget Abdoul Tapsoba from Standard de Liège (still uncertain for this first match), defender Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen or even the Trojan revelation of start of the season Issa Kaboré.

During the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, the Stallions made the reigning African champions tremble, dropping two draws against the Algerians. 

Even if they did not get their ticket for Qatar, the Burkinabè showed good things and hope to continue their momentum: "We are going to go there to bring the Cup home. We have a strong, talented team. . I think we have all the means to win the CAN with a victory in the first match, we will take match by match to reach the final, "defender Issoufou Dayo announced to the Burkina 24 site.

The two teams have already met three times in the CAN finals.

Already in 1998, they faced each other at the opening of the competition.

Cameroon had won 1-0.

In 2017, the Indomitable Lions and Stallions neutralized 1-1 in the group stage. 

The Cameroonians will then face Ethiopia (January 13) and Cape Verde (January 17), while the Burkinabè will face Cape Verde (January 13) and Ethiopia (January 17).

With AFP

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