Vincent Aboubakar scored a first-half brace of penalties as Cameroon came from behind to beat Burkina Faso in the opening game of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday evening.

Burkina Faso’s France midfielder Gustavo Sangare opened the scoring after falling into an empty net from Bertrand Traore’s cross. The Stallions kept on pressuring the hosts, but it was the hosts who scored the second goal after taking advantage of the Burkinabe’s recklessness.

The signs have been visible early in the first half when Burkina Faso defender Steeve Yago was shown a yellow for a sliding tackle on Collins Fai in the first half.

Napoli’s Andre Zambo Anguissa was hacked down in the box, and Aboubakar scored the first of his penalties. Five minutes later, it was another penalty to Cameroon, and Aboubakar kept his cool for the second time.

The second half was cagey, but the biggest action saw Aboubakar close to his hattrick, but a VAR review chalked the goal off for offside. Bertrand Traore also saw a long-range free-kick pushed away by Andre Onana.

Cameroon will face Ethiopia in the next game, while Cape Verde will play Burkina Faso.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde beat Ethiopia with a single goal in Olembe. The East Africans were reduced to ten men in the first ten minutes of the game, but it took the Sharks the whole half to get the game’s only goal through Julio Tavares, who headed in a well-lofted cross.

Meanwhile, it’s a game fest on Monday when four matches are played with the first game between Senegal and Zimbabwe, while the biggest game of the day will see Morocco and Ghana play. Then Guinea will play Malawi while Comoros will debut against Gabon, who will be without Arsenal forward Pierre Emeric Aubameyang.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu