The Indomitable Lions salvaged their bruised pride with a great comeback and a penalty shoot-out win over Burkina Faso in the AFCON 2021 third-place play-off. Despite trailing 3-0 with less than 20 minutes left, the tournament’s top marksman Vincent Aboubakar scored two quick goals with the help of the Stallions nervous goalkeeper Farid to force the shoot-out and ultimately end the tournament on a high note.Third-place play-off matches in tournaments like this are usually drab affairs. Two teams, still reeling from the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final, thinking of what might have been – forced to be a part of a game that hardly anyone wants to play. It’s a good gauge of team atmosphere, unity and spirit. Which team can put the heartache of the semis behind them and rally for one final push?Cameroon clinch a third place finish in #AFCON2021 after beating Burkina Faso on penalties ✨ pic.twitter.com/MR67gNN5rb— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 5, 2022 In the build-up to the game, the Stallions’ captain Bertrand Traore spoke about the hardship over the past month and his teammates’ determination of making their people back home proud of their achievement.”I have experienced everything in Cameroon since the start of the tournament. Injury, fatigue, COVID contamination. It’s an exceptional tournament but I would like to do as in 2017, win the bronze medal and offer third place to the people of Burkina Faso.”Cameroon were almost sure that the coveted trophy will remain in their possession when all the other teams have long since gone home, but the shoot-out versus Egypt the other day has shattered their dreams. Tonight’s drubbing at the hands of Burkina Faso felt like a post-mortem for over 70 minutes.Two well-worked goals from Steeve Yago and Djibril Ouattara plus a bizarre Andre Onana own goal put the Stallions 3-0 ahead with Cameroon seemingly dead and buried.From 3 goals down to winning the third place playoff. Cameroon 👏 what a game! #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/ShvNvZfWoP— Jeff Kinyanjui (@Nyash88) February 5, 2022 The frustration and anger was pouring out of every Cameroon player until the end of the game, with Lyon man Karl Toko Ekambi particularly annoyed with just about everything and everyone. You could see that the home player were far from accepting the semi-final failure.But, then, there was a spark. As if the Cameroon players realized all of the sudden that there is indeed something left to play for. Pride maybe?Stephane Bahoken pulled one back 20 minutes from time after the Stallions failed to clear their lines from a corner. The minutes that followed offered some kind of consolation to the home fans in Yaounde. Finally, they got to see the Indomitable Lions show some desire.🚨⚽️ | ABOUBAKAR MAKES IT 3-3! WHAT A COMEBACK! Burkina Faso 3 – 3 Cameroon pic.twitter.com/442KLbQMHj— Football For You (@FootbaIlForYou) February 5, 2022 Vincent Aboubakar scored the simplest of headers to grab his seventh strike of the tournament with five minutes of the regulation time still to go. Suddenly, there was a game on! And there was still time for Burkina Faso goalkeeper Farid Ouedraogo to gift another goal to the Lions. He left his line needlessly to pick up a hopeful ball into the box, bumped into his teammate Harold Moukoudi and gave Aboubakar another easy chance to sidefoot into the unguarded net. Despite looking down and out for over an hour, Cameroon managed to make it 3-3! To make things worse, Ouedraogo sustained a serious injury upon falling to the ground, requiring a stretcher and ultimately a substitution that saw substitute goalie go between the sticks for the dreaded shoot-out.Aboubakar couldn’t help his team past Egypt, but at least he kept them in the chase for the third spot. And the Lions scored all their kicks. Unfortunately for the Stallions, Blatti Toure shot meekly at Onana. The hosts have done it!Only one match remains in this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. The one that that will draw attention from the world over. Bring it on!AFRICA CUP OF NATIONSCameroon 2021Saturday – third-place play-offBurkina Faso – Cameroon 3-3 (2-0)/Yago 24, Onana 43 og, Ouattara 49 – Bahoken 71, Aboubakar 85, 87/Cameroon win 5-3 on penalties.Sunday – final22.00: (2.40) Senegal (2.90) Egypt (3.80)***odds are subject to change
