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International Soccer

PRO PHILANI AFCON WRAP: And then there were 4

Pro Philani looks back at the quarter-finals of AFCON 2021. Three West African giants and northern powerhouses Egypt will battle it out in the semis to for a chance to play in the final.

Mo Salah of Egypt - AFCON
Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports

Pro Philani looks back at the quarter-finals of AFCON 2021. Three West African giants and northern powerhouses Egypt will battle it out in the semis to for a chance to play in the final.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Egypt and Senegal progress

There is a peculiar statistic attached to Cameroon at this tournament. This is their 20th AFCON, and they have scored 11 goals in this 33rd edition. Strangely, all eleven goals have been scored by two players: Captain Vincent Aboubaker (6) and Karl Toko Ekambi (5).

How Cameroon has failed to get more goal scorers remains a mystery. Their path to the semis looks so easy on paper. They went unbeaten in their group to finish with 7 points. In the round of 16, they faced in goalkeeper-less, Comoros. Though it’s an easy fixture on paper, the Comoros team fought until the end as they went down 2-1.

In the quarter-finals they faced a tougher side that also finished top of their group and eliminated Ghana in the group stages, Gambia. The Cameroonians outclassed their counterparts and emerged victorious 2-0.

What will happen if Toko Ekambi and Aboubaker, God forbid, get injured? Will Cameroon survive? The semi-final against Egypt will inform us.

Burkina Faso have Tunisia’s number

In AFCON 2017, Burkina Faso cruised past Tunisia 2-0 in the quarter-final stage. They did it again in Cameroon, this time with 10-men. 19-year-old Dango Ouattara’s moment of brilliance ensured the Burkinabe’s journey continued as he netted the only goal of the match to book their ticket to the semi-finals.

The Tunisians had a very complicated AFCON on their own. Lost 2 group stage matches with one match ended before regulation time, suffered Covid cases, never really got to play as a team. Perhaps in future, CAF will find ways of helping countries replace players as the tournament progresses if the player is out due to Covid.

Egypt edge Morocco in thriller

It was the Mo Salah show on Sunday night as the Egyptian King scored and provided an extra-time assist to ensure Egypt move into semis. In 2019 when Egypt were hosts, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by South Africa via a solitary goal.

They have bounced back brilliantly from the disappointment of 2019. There has been a change of attitude amongst the European-based superstars. They look hungrier to play now than they were group stages.

Egypt will now face the host nation in the semi-finals. At AFCON 2010, Egypt defeated Cameroon 3-1 on their way to winning the tournament. In 2017, Cameroon gave Egypt a proper football lesson when they defeated them 2-1. This has the makings of a fascinating battle. 

Silky Senegal see off Equatorial Guinea

Senegal cruised passed Equatorial Guinea with an easy 3-1 win. It was also first time they conceded a goal in the tournament. Though the Senegalese were underperforming in the group stages, they remained one of the favorites to win this 33rd edition of the tournament.

Senegal will face fellow West Africans in Burkina Faso, who are also aiming to reach the final for the first time. Look out for Sadio Mane, who after a quiet start to the tournament, has started to come alive at the business end of proceedings. 

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