⚽🇨🇲  33rd EDITION OF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 🌍

✍🏽 Presented by Joseph Kizza

(Scroll down the page for earlier updates)

📺 Watch all the AFCON 2021 matches live on Vision Group's Wan Luo TV (Startimes Channel 239 and on the Vision Digital Experience App)

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12:37 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲 
(Cameroon win 5-3 on penalties to take bronze)

The dancing in the Cameroonian camp will surely continue deep into the night. But for me here, it's a wrap. Will be back for the BIG one in less than 24 hours from now.

Stay safe.

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12:35 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲 
(Cameroon win 5-3 on penalties to take bronze)

Cameroon's captain Vincent Aboubakar has wrapped up his campaign with EIGHT goals, two of which have facilitated The Indomitable Lions' spirited fightback against The Stallions of Burkina Faso in the third place playoff.

Since there is still one more game to go, he has yet to be crowned the tournament's topscorer for the Golden Boot. It's definitely going to take a lot to beat his goals tally by the Senegalese and Egyptians. Sadio Mane has three goals while Mohamed Salah is on two.

Give the boot to Aboubakar already!

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12:26 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲 
(Cameroon win 5-3 on penalties to take bronze)

Medals time. It is bronze for the hosts - but it will particularly feel as sweet as gold considering the nature of how they got to win it. They were three goals down into the final 20 minutes but still managed to claw back and force a penalty shootout. The rest is now history. Consolations will never feel better.

Spare a thought for Burkina Faso though. The spectre of 1998 returned to haunt them.

Meanwhile, Cameroon have ended their campaign with 14 goals scored while Burkina Faso return home with nine. Not shabby at all.

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12:19 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲 
(Cameroon win 5-3 on penalties to take bronze)

For Burkina Faso, this is a night to forget. A repeat of 1998.

Twenty-four years ago, The Stallions were the hosts of that edition and were reduced to playing in the third place playoff, eventually settling for fourth after losing to DR Congo in one of the highest-scoring games of the tournament's history. 

Eight goals scored in regulation time - including four in the last four minutes - could not separate the two sides, and neither could extra time. So the contest was dragged into spotkicks, which The Leopards won by a huge margin.

In fact, DR Congo were trailing 4-1, before they made a remarkable turnaround by scoring three goals in the last two minutes of that game to force the contest into extra time, paving the way for their third place playoff victory 4-1 on penalties in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou.

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12:12 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲 
(Cameroon win 5-3 on penalties to take bronze)

BREAKING NEWS

Ambroise Oyongo scores the winning penalty.

CAMEROON WIN 5-3 ON PENALTIES TO SECURE THIRD PLACE.

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12:10 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Steeve Yago keeps Burkina Faso in it. (3-4 advantage Cameroon).

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12:10 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Pierre Kunde scores for Cameroon. Advantage Cameroon (2-4)

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12:09 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Blati Touré (Burkina Faso) misses his penalty. 2-3 (Advantage Cameroon)

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12:08 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Karl Toko Ekambi restores Cameroon's advantage. 2-3.

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12:07 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Soumaila Ouattara slots home for Burkina Faso. 2-2. Karl Toko Ekambi is up next for Cameroon.

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12:06 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu statters, then scores. 1-2 (advantage Cameroon)

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12:06 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Issa Kaboré beats Onana to make it 1-1.

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12:05 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Here we go. Vincent Aboubakar, who took the first penalty against Egypt in the semis, leads his troops again. And the skipper scores. 0-1. Advantage Cameroon.

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12:01 am

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Cameroon took part in a penalty shootout against Egypt in the semifinals, missing three of their takes in that one. Only Vincent Aboubakar scored for Cameroon in that one.

What do they do now?

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11:58 pm

FULL TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

MATCH GOES INTO PENALTIES!

No extra time for this one. It is straight to the spotkicks Weary legs, exhausted minds. Yet, mental stability is needed for penalties.

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11:58 pm

90 +8' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Eight minutes beyond regulation time now. Could we see a hero here?

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11:56 pm

90 +6' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

The clock has been ticking during that lengthy pause and four minutes have been added - but of course we are now way beyond those additional minutes.

Meanwhile, Farid Ouédraogo is stretchered off and on hops Aboubacar Sawadogo.

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11:49 pm

89' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Goalkeeper Farid Ouédraogo is still on the ground after clashing with his own player in the buildup to Cameroon's third goal.

The referee is busy communicating with the VAR team. About the goal? It will be harsh if it was to be ruled out for whatever reason.

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11:47 pm

87' ⚽ GOAL! Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-3 Cameroon 🇨🇲

MADNESS IN YAOUNDE!

Hello, how did we get here again? Vincent Aboubakar has done it again! The Cameroon captain, who was slapped on at the beginning of the second half, has restored parity after keeper and defender of the same team collide mid-air to spill the ball down to Aboubakar - and he makes no mistake. A whooping eight goals for the marksman. Give him the Golden Boot already!

Scenes across Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium!

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11:45 pm

85' ⚽ GOAL! Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-2 Cameroon 🇨🇲

A comeback in the offing? Vincent Aboubakar strikes from a corner kick to give the hosts hope.

Burkina Faso coach Kamou Malo is telling his players not to lose their heads.

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11:44 pm

84' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-1 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CLOSE! Now that's impressive goalkeeping by Farid Ouédraogo to block Stéphane Bahoken's close-range effort. Corner for Cameroon.

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11:39 pm

79' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-1 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Issa Kaboré has worringly remained on the ground after being nudged heavily by substitute Karl Toko Ekambi and partner-in-crime Harold-Desty Moukoudi. The referee had not seen the Burkinabe player still in horizontal state after the incident, so he pauses the action and trots back to the corner area to check on the downed player.

Eventually, the Burkinabe manages to shake off the niggle.

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11:35 pm

75' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-1 Cameroon 🇨🇲

💥 OUCH! Djibril Ouattara lands on his back like a bag of potatoes from a challenge delivered by Jérôme Onguéné, who shrugs and plays Mr. I did-not-do-anything-wrong. But the referee will not fall for that. He awards a freekick to Burkina Faso.

Captain Bertrand Traore stands over it. His ground shot is off target though.....should have lobbed it in for a teammate's head. The Aston Villa forward will have to do better than that next time. Profligacy.

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11:31 pm

71' ⚽ GOAL!  Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-1 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Deficit reduced! Can they? Will they? The crowd thinks they can! The hosts have a goal through Stéphane Bahoken. We have an interesting 19 minutes ahead of us, ladies and gentlemen.

How much more do the Indomitable Lions have in them to pull off an incredible comeback?

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11:27 pm

67' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CHANCE! Burkina Faso's Ismahila Ouédraogo is yellow-carded and gets his teammates to defend a freekick, which is whacked into the area - this time from the left flank. The resulting cross causes all sorts of problems for The Stallions, before it is ballooned into the night sky of Yaounde - way out of the danger zone.

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11:23 pm

63' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

How can Cameroon claw back into this one? They can start from here.

Pierre Kunde sweeps in a long-range freekick that hurtles into the Burkina Faso box. Big man Harold-Desty Moukoudi lifts off and heads powerfully, but his effort is over the bar. A tad lower and that could have been the start of a massive comeback. Just maybe.

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11:19 pm

59' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Need I remind you that this is the fourth edition in which Burkina Faso have reached at least the semifinal of the Cup of Nations. Two of those, they have finished as losing semifinalists - fourth and third. Which spot will they take this time?

For now, they are good for a bronze-medal finish - if only they can hang on.

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11:14 pm

54' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

It is an embarrassment of riches for Burkina Faso - and embarrassing for Cameroon. How did it go this wrong for the hosts, you can't help but wonder!

A third of The Stallions' nine goals have been scored in this one match. If they score two more goals here - which they seem to be in the mood of doing - Burkina Faso will equal Cameroon's 11 goals.

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11:10 pm

50' ⚽ GOAL! Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  3-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

It is going south for the hosts. A sweet delivery from the right from captain Bertrand Traore is deliciously nodded into the back of the net by Djibril Ouattara. Onan is beaten again.

Three one-sided goals!

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11:06 pm

46' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  2-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Stéphane Bahoken is booked early in this second half for kicking Soumaila Ouattara in the face with his heel. This is not long after Jean Onana downs Gustavo Sangaré.

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11:05 pm

KICKOFF! Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  2-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Cameroon have brought on their big guns at the start of the second half. Vincent Aboubakar and Moumi Ngamaleu are on.

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10:54 pm

HALF TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  2-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

In the opening half, Cameroon had more of the ball (56.4%), but fewer shots on target from their three attempts than Burkina Faso. The Stallions had two shots on target from three attempts.

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10:49 pm

HALF TIME: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  2-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Boos from the home crowd as referee Rédouane Jiyed sends the players to the dressing rooms. The hosts are trailing at the break.

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10:46 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  2-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Four minutes of added time and it's getting a little more physical here. This tie is having a mental toll on some of the players. Frustration building.

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10:45 pm

45' ⚽ GOAL! Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  2-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

After a lengthy VAR review, Burkina Faso have another goal - and it's an own goal. Goalkeeper André Onana let the ball escape his grasp from an impressive Issa Kaboré sliding cross.

It is an embarrassing goal for a goalkeeper of Onana's calibre to concede.

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10:41 pm

41' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Five minutes of relentless pressure by Cameroon have sparked off a euphoric response from the crowd, who are sensing something - just something from their trailing side before the break.

The Burkina Faso box is very busy.

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10:37 pm

37' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CHANCE! Stéphane Bahoken has his back on the Burkina Faso goal. He makes an instinctive turn onto his left to let rip under pressure from Edmond Tapsoba, but his rasping low shot whistles wide of the mark. That was a great chance for the Indomitable Lion!

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10:34 pm

34' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Sensing that they can improve their lead, the Burkinabes continue to throw their weight to the front, pegging Cameroon back deeper into their final third and forcing headed clearance after headed clearance.

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10:30 pm

30' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

So far so good for Bertrand Traore and co. Fifteen minutes to the break.

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10:27 pm

27' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

 
💥 OUCH! A freak collision involving Abdoul Tapsoba and André Onana sees the medical teams summoned on to the pitch to sort out the Cameroon goalkeeper, who is down as a result. It was not deliberate by the Burkinabe player.

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10:24 pm

24' ⚽ GOAL! Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

And just like in their opening game back on January 9, Burkina Faso have broken the deadlock, this time through Steeve Yago.

The Stallions go on the offensive, with the ball ending up on Issa Kaboré's feet. He delivers a cross to the far post - it is too high for teammate Bertrand Traore, but Yago times it perfectly to connect for his first international goal to put Burkina Faso in the driving seat.

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10:20 pm

20' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Cameroon are on the attack again, but the danger is cleared.

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10:17 pm

17' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Similar scenes here from what we saw unfold in the semifinal against Senegal (from Burkina Faso's point of view). Their keeper is down after a goal-mouth face block.

It all started from Cameroon captain Ambroise Oyongo's whipped in cross, which Farid Ouédraogo awkwardly blocks back into play. Jean Onana is in the right place to whack the rebound, but it catches the Burkinabe keeper's face.

Play will pause for a couple of minutes as Ouédraogo gets the attention of the medical staff.

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10:13 pm

13' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CHANCE! Christian Bassogog stands over a Cameroon freekick from the right flank. He will deliver with his left foot, which he does, sweeping in a cross that Farid Ouédraogo rises highest to pluck out of the air into the safety of his gloves.

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10:11 pm

11' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Edmond Tapsoba gives it a go from miles out, and he knows he will have to do much better than that to beat Cameroonian keeper André Onana, who comfortably collects his feeble ground shot.

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10:09 pm

9' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Action in these opening minutes is concentrated in the midfield. You could throw a blanket over that area and cover most of the players.

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10:06 pm

6' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

This the first meeting of Burkina Faso and Cameroon beyond the group stage of the Cup of Nations. Previously, The Stallions have met only DR Congo (lost) and Ghana (won). The Indomitable Lions have previously encountered only Zaire/DR Congo (won) and Nigeria (lost).

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10:04 pm

4' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

The two goalkeepers - Farid Ouédraogo (Burkina Faso) and André Onana (Cameroon) - could as well have their legs up in the air. There is nothing much to deal with in their respective boxes.

Remember this is a very much-changed Cameroonian side. Their top scorers Vincent Aboubakar (six) and Karl Toko Ekambi (five) are not in this one.

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10:02 pm

2' Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

The Stallions are tapping the ball about, mostly inside their final third, with bullish swagger and confidence. You may call this a losers match, but the atmosphere inside the stadium is effervescent. You can't deny these football-mad fans a good evening of African soccer!

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10:00 pm

KICKOFF! Burkina Faso 🇧🇫  0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

We are under way, ladies and gentlemen! Moroccan referee Rédouane Jiyed is the man at the centre of this game. The Burkinabes get the ball rolling.

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9:54 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Burkina Faso coach Kamou Malo admitted that they were understandably disappointed after being eliminated in the semifinals, but that his side are "physically and mentally ready to play our game".

It is about time . . .

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9:53 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

The iconic Cup of Nations tune rings out inside Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium as the players march out for the pre-kickoff formalities.

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9:42 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

In there, somewhere, you can make out the Burkinabe flag . . .

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9:38 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Trust African football fans with upping their own game in the stands with wardrobe creativity! Throughout the tournament, the spectators have relentless given us a side show to cheer about beyond the matters on the pitch . . .

The Cameroon face/body painters have been creatively busy.

Does he remind you of The Grinch?

Remember Count Dracula?

You can relate in many ways than one . . .

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9:30 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Ding, ding, ding! Thirty minutes to kickoff time!

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9:29 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Burkina Faso have made five changes to the side that lost to Senegal in the semis:

Farid Ouédraogo ‏(GK)
Issa Kaboré
Steeve Yago
Ismahila Ouédraogo
Soumaila Ouattara
Edmond Tapsoba
Bertrand Traoré ‏(C)
Blati Touré
Djibril Ouattara
Gustavo Sangaré
Abdoul Tapsoba



Cameroon have made EIGHT changes to the side that started against Egypt last Thursday. Interestingly, Vincent Aboubakar does not start tonight:

André Onana ‏(GK)
Ignatius Ganago
Ambroise Oyongo ‏(C)
Jérôme Onguéné
Harold-Desty Moukoudi
Olivier Mbaizo
Pierre Kunde
Samuel Oum Gouet
Christian Bassogog
Stéphane Bahoken
Jean Onana

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9:25 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Burkina Faso's first-choice goalkeeper Herve Kouakou Koffi . . .

 
He did not finish the semifinal clash against Senegal after a nasty mid-air collision with Crystal Palace man Cheikhou Kouyaté. He was stretchered off - never to return. He won't start tonight, with Farid Ouédraogo taking his place, as the team news coming up shows.

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9:16 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

It is 11 goals between two players for Cameroon.

Forwards Vincent Aboubakar (six) and Karl Toko-Ekambi (five) remain the leading scorers in this edition. They have scored all of the hosts' 11 goals, each managing to score two braces.

Saudi Arabia-based Aboubakar scored twice in their opening win over Burkina Faso.

The Cameroon captain the scored another brace against Ethiopia, with French-born Lyon forward Toko-Ekambi also scoring twice in that one.

Aboubakar was on rampage again, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Cape Verde.

He then scored his sixth of the campaign after Toko-Ekambi's opener against ten-man Comoros in the round of 16.

Toko-Ekambi completed his brace in Cameroon's 2-0 victory over debutants Gambia on their way to the semifinals.

The Indomitable Lions have conceded four goals so far.

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9:07 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Burkina Faso have scored one goal in each of the six games they have played so far, making it a total of six goals. They have conceded seven goals altogether.

Each of their goal hase been scored by a different player: Gustavo Sangare, Hassane Bande, Cyrille Bayala, Bertrand Traore, Dango Ouattara and Blati Toure.

Gustavo Sangare scored in their 2-1 defeat to Cameroon in the opening game. Hassane Bande netted the only goal in their subsequent win over Cape Verde.

Cyrille Bayala saw his 24th-minute goal cancelled out by Getaneh Kebede in a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in their third and last group game.

Bertrand Traore compensated for his missed penalty against Gabon in the round of 16 with a well-worked opener in a game that was stretched to the spotkicks.

Against Tunisia in the quarterfinals, Dango Ouattara, who was later dismissed, netted the winner that took Burkina Faso to the semis.

Ibrahim Blati Toure scored a consolation goal when Burkina Faso had their final ambitions snuffed out by Senegal's sucker punch in the semis.

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9:02 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

How Cameroon got this far . . .

Cameroon's tournament could not have kicked off better. With their every move put under the microscope, The Indomitable Lions shook off the early nerves that saw them trail against Burkina Faso in their opener, to go on to win that tie.

Captain Vincent Aboubakar shouldered the responsibility of taking two penalties in the space of eight first-half minutes - and the talismanic forward did not disappoint.

A triumphant start to the campaign inspired the hosts to 4-1 victory over Ethiopia in their second group game - at a time when goals were at a premium in the other group games.

Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi scored a brace each after Cameroon trailed in the fourth minute through Dawa Hotessa Dukele. That victory guaranteed the hosts passage to the last-16.

Much as they wanted it, it would not be a 100% winning record in the group stage for The Indomitable Lions when they were tamed by Cape Verde in a 1-1 result in their final group game. Again, Aboubakar was on target in the 39th minute, but it was no match-winner because Garry Rodrigues levelled the score in the 53rd minute. 

In the round of 16, Antonio Conceição's charges returned to winning ways with a surprisingly hard-fought 2-1 win over debutants Comoros, who had to use an outfield player as their goalkeeper for the entire 90 minutes (COVID-19 and injury sidelined their three goalkeepers).

Ekambi and Aboubakar scored, before Youssouf M'Changama pulled one back for The Coelacanths.

It was a steady course for Cameroon, with the next hurdle being the quarterfinals - against another debut team, Gambia, the lowest ranked of the 24 teams at the finals. 

The hosts' dominance proved too much for The Scorpions, who succumbed to Ekambi's second of the campaign completed in the space of seven minutes in the second half.

After enjoying a relatively smooth passage to the semifinals, Cameroon were up against the tournament's most decorated team, Egypt. The Pharaohs, seven-time record champions, better The Indomitable Lions by two titles.

That meant Thursday's semifinal clash was one of battle-hardened giants. 

It was also a replica of the 2017 final in which Cameroon came out on top. It was a reverse of fortunes this time, as Mohamed Salah's Egypt won 3-1 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes inside a bubbly Olembe Stadium under the Yaounde night sky.

The Pharoahs marched on to the final to meet Senegal on Sunday while the hosts will have to settle for either third or fourth place tonight.

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8:50 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

How Burkina Faso got this far . . .

Burkina Faso's Gustavo Sangare scored the first goal of this edition in the opening game against hosts Cameroon 27 days ago in Yaounde. It was not enough though, as The Stallions surrendered their lead towards the end of the first half to fall to a 2-1 defeat.

The Burkinabes got their campaign back on track with a hard-fought win over Cape Verde in their second group game, Hassane Bande scoring the only goal of that game.

A subsequent draw against Ethiopia lifted The Stallions into the round of 16. In that last group game, Cyrille Bayala gave the West African side the lead 24 minutes into the game. Ethiopian Getaneh Kebede converted from the spot in the second half to ensure a share of the spoils.

In the last-16, Burkina Faso were up against Gabon. Here, Burkinabe captain Bertrand Traore missed a penalty, before making it up by scoring.

Burkina Faso though their slim lead against ten-man Gabon would do the job, but a stoppage time own goal by Adama Guira forced the tie into extra time to give Patrice Neveu's side a lifeline. An absorbing shootout that following saw The Stallions advance 7-6 on penalties.

In the quarterfinals, Dango Ouattara scored the winner against 2004 AFCON champions Tunisia in first half stoppage time. But the 19-year-old Burkinabe was sent off in the 82nd minute for elbowing Ali Maâloul in the face during a mid-air battle for the ball.

That ruled Ouattara out of Burkina Faso's semifinal showdown with Senegal. 

In the Lions of Teranga, The Stallions had met their toughest test yet. Sadio Mane inspired his teammates to a 3-1 win over the 2013 finalists, with the goals coming in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Abdou Diallo put Senegal in front in the 70th minute, Bamba Dieng improve the lead six minutes later. 

Blati Toure halved the deficit to give Burkina Faso hope, but it was the man himself - Mane - who sealed the victory with a composed dink over the keeper in the 87th minute.

Senegal progressed to the final while Burkina Faso hit a dead end. They will now play for third or fourth placement tonight.

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8:40 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Third place playoff meetings . . .

Although they have faced each other already in this campaign, this the first meeting of Burkina Faso and Cameroon in a third place playoff.

Previously, The Stallions have met only DR Congo (lost) and Ghana (won).

The Indomitable Lions have previously encountered only Zaire/DR Congo (won) and Nigeria (lost).

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8:30 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Meanwhile, Cameroon have reached at least the semifinals of the Cup of Nations for the 10th time in their history. Seven of those times have seen The Indomitable Lions go all the way to the final and win it five times.

It has been a losing-semifinalists tag for Cameroon in the remaining three times, including the current edition.

The first one (edition as losing semifinalists) came 12 years before the start of their glory years - that is, 1972. Hosting the tournament that year, The Indomitable Lions thrashed Zaire (DR Congo today) 5-2 in Yaounde to take third place.

Twenty years would pass for Cameroon to again become losing semifinalists. That was in Senegal in 1992. At the time, they had won the title twice already. Playing in front of 47,500 spectators in Dakar, The Indomitable Lions lost 2-1 to Nigeria to settle for fourth place.

Three decades later and Cameroon are again - you guessed right - losing semifinalists. It is an undesired tag, but well, it is there for taking anyways. They have finished third and fourth before. What will it be this time against Burkina Faso?

And I am sure their star marksman, Vincent Aboubakar, is itching to bump up his goals tally. With six goals, he is the tournament's topscorer as it stands. So he is telling you to watch him shoot for that golden boot . . .

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8:20 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

This is the fourth edition in which Burkina Faso have reached at least the semifinal of the Cup of Nations. In two of those, they have finished as losing semifinalists - fourth and third.

In 1998, playing as hosts in the third place playoff, The Stallions settled for fourth after losing to DR Congo in one of the highest-scoring games of the tournament's history. 

Eight goals scored in regulation time - including four in the last four minutes - could not separate the two sides, and neither could extra time. So the contest was dragged into spotkicks, which The Leopards won by a huge margin.

In fact, DR Congo were trailing 4-1, before they made a remarkable turnaround by scoring three goals in the last two minutes of that game to force the contest into extra time, paving the way for their third place playoff victory 4-1 on penalties in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou.

Fifteen years later in South Africa, Burkina Faso made it all the way to the final and lost 1-0 to Nigeria. 

Sunday Mba scored the match-winner five minutes before half time inside a packed FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. That year, Burkinabe Jonathan Pitroipa was named the player of the tournament.

In 2017 in Gabon, The Stallions were denied a place in the final by Egypt (4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 result) in Libreville. So as losing semifinalists, they faced off with Ghana for third place - and unlike in 1998, this time Burkina Faso came out on top with a 1-0 victory over the Black Stars. Sibiri Alain Traore scored the winner in the 89th minute.

Interestingly, that's the same year that their opponents tonight, Cameroon, went all the way to the final to meet and beat Egypt 2-1 for their fifth title. We already know that The Pharaohs dished out some measure of revenge to The Indomitable Lions in Thursday's semifinal in Yaounde to deny the hosts a place in the final.

So you could say that Burkina Faso are up against (the wrath of) a wounded lion in the form of Cameroon.

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8:15 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

For Cameroon, it was all going as planned. Life was a cruise . . .

. . . until they were rocked by a turbulence, the music stopped and the party ended!

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8:10 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Consolation . . . podium finish . . . bronze medal

So, for Cameroon and Burkina Faso, it ends exactly the way it began four weeks ago. 
These two West African sides opened their respective campaigns on the same day, the same time and the same place - facing each other. Tonight, they conclude their respective 2021 Cup of Nations journeys battling each other again - though from a different venue: Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, but still in Cameroon capital Yaounde. So expect plenty of home support here.

A couple of weeks ago, Cameroon and Burkina Faso were jostling for the sweet spots of Group A. Tonight, the Lions and Stallions are wrestling for a consolation third place finish. A bronze medal spot. It's something at least.

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8:00 pm

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 v Cameroon 🇨🇲  (10pm)

Hello and good evening to everyone. Welcome to this text commentary as we build up to tonight's third place playoff featuring the the two teams on the losing side of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals played mid-this week.

A bronze medal is up for grabs in tonight's match for third place.

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