Relief and atmosphere as Cameroon open Africa Cup of Nations in style

The hosts beat Burkina Faso in a celebratory opening match of the first Cup of Nations to be held in Cameroon in 50 years

It was two and a half years later than planned but few in Yaoundé would be bothered by that. The hosts, Cameroon, suffered an early setback but, thanks to two penalties from their captain, Vincent Aboubakar, they preserved an unbeaten home record in competitive games that stretches back to 1973 and began their Cup of Nations campaign with a win, 2-1 against Burkina Faso.

It was not just the result that should encourage Cameroon’s Portuguese coach, Toni Conceição. Aboubakar, who volleyed the winner in the final five years ago when Cameroon won their fifth title, looked lively throughout. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa controlled the tempo from the back of midfield. And, other than the misjudgment that cost the goal, André Onana impressed in goal in only his fifth game since returning after a drugs ban (in which he seems to have been unfortunate, mistaking a diuretic that had been prescribed to his wife for paracetamol), making a superb reflex block early in the second half.

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