Cameroon, Burkina Faso win to reach semi-finals

Karl Toko Ekambi’s brace has helped the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to book a semi-final berth at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The hosts had dominated proceedings from the first half but were unable to make their chances count in the first half. At the restart of the second half, the Indomitable Lions eventually […]

Karl Toko Ekambi’s brace has helped the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to book a semi-final berth at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The hosts had dominated proceedings from the first half but were unable to make their chances count in the first half.

At the restart of the second half, the Indomitable Lions eventually broke the deadlock when Collins Fai’s pinpoint delivery from the right wing was nodded into the bottom corner by Ekambi.

The Scorpions made a triple substitution in a bid to change things around but seconds later Cameroon doubled their lead when Lyon striker Ekambi converted a low cross at the far post.

Gambia were unable to create a chance of note as the hosts comfortably held on to set up a semi-final clash with either Egypt or Morocco who play on Sunday.

In a post-match conference, Ekambi said the team knew they had to win and had to improve their performances in the second half.  

“We are a family and everyone has his role. It is important for us. During the halftime, we told ourselves we needed to be patient to win and we had the confidence in ourselves and we had to win. We don’t play with history,” he said.

In the other quarter-final match, 10-man Burkina Faso inflicted a 0-1 defeat on the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia to set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Dango Ouattara who was sent off later in the match scored the lone goal in the 45th minute.