AFCON 2023 (Q): Cameroon seal qualification against a spirited Burundi

It was tough going for the Lions Indomptables in the 1st half! Burundi clearly dominated the game but were denied by an André Onana at his best. But the match took a new turn in the second half. The reason: Cameroon were handed an unexpected gift in the opening moments of the second half. A poorly weighted back-pass from a Burundian defender was well exploited by Bryan Mbeumo, who drew the goalkeeper and opened the scoring (46th). That error changed the momentum of the match and, above all, gave the Lions Indomptables fresh confidence. The story of the match.

1st half: (0-0) Cameroon kept alive by André Onana

Burundi made their intentions clear from the start, with a one-on-one in the 2nd minute that Onana got a fingertip to. Cameroon responded in the 10th minute with a direct corner, which the Swallows' goalkeeper did well to push away. In the 15th minute, Burundi created a second clear chance with a long-range shot from Saidi Ntibazonkiza, saved by Onana. Same again in the 24th minute: after a long spell of possession, Bimenyimana received a cross and fired off-balance, and once more the Lions Indomptables goalkeeper held it well. Onana again saved his side from a header by the relentless Bimenyimana after a cross in the 27th minute.

Finally, in the 37th minute, Cameroon launched a counter-attack through Karl Toko Ekambi. He played Bryan Mbeumo in perfectly and he found himself one-on-one with Burundi's last line of defence, Rukundo, but was denied. A huge chance for Cameroon, but above all a reminder from a very enterprising Burundi. In the 41st minute, Burundi wasted a numerical advantage in the Cameroon defence, which was fortunately cleared by a foot lingering in the box. Right at the end of the first half, Super Onana saved another shot, from Amissi. Half-time score (0-0), with an attractive Burundi side playing good football, with great composure, and above all creating the best chances. The statistics speak for them: 6 shots on target for Etienne Ndayirage's men and 6 saves for Onana, against 3 for Rigobert Song's men.

2nd half: Cameroon open the scoring in the opening seconds and the momentum of the match is reversed

Cameroon were handed a gift right at the restart, from a back-pass by a Burundian defender to his goalkeeper that was underhit. Mbeumo needed no invitation to open the scoring. A cruel scenario for Burundi, who were left dazed! Chances kept coming for Cameroon. Aboubakar missed the knockout blow in the 52nd minute after a run from Mbeumo, but the Burundi defence stayed alert.

The momentum of the match had clearly swung in this second half, with a Cameroon side growing in confidence after the goal. Burundi were close to cracking. In the 57th minute, a cut-back cross from Ekambi nearly ended in a Burundian own goal, but went behind for a corner. Christopher Wooh scored Cameroon's second from that corner, following up a shot that had been parried the first time (59th). The tempo then dropped, with Cameroon in control mode.

Cameroon created further chances, such as a direct free-kick from Toko Ekambi held by the Burundian goalkeeper. Nothing else of note followed, apart from Burundi missing the chance to pull one back and give themselves a late hope in the 86th minute, with a poorly directed header after a precise cross. Aboubakar finally sealed Cameroon's victory in added time. Following a botched clearance, he dribbled round the goalkeeper and scored despite the defenders getting back.

⏱️ 90´ IT'S OVER! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Cameroon book their ticket to Abidjan.

CAMEROON 🇨🇲 3-0 🇧🇮 BURUNDI

⚽️ Mbeumo
⚽️ Wooh
⚽️ Aboubakar pic.twitter.com/U2Wa2a7Xp1

— 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀 🇨🇲🦁 (@JoueursCMR) September 12, 2023