After missing the final, Burkina Faso and Cameroon will face off today for a place on the podium of the 33rd edition of AFCON 2021.
It would be a repeat of the tournament opening game, when Cameroon won 2-1 at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé on 9 January.
Match Card
Date: 5 February 2022
Time: 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT)
Venue: Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé
Third Place Match - Burkina Faso v Cameroon
READ ALSO: AFCON 2021: Egypt sets up Senegal final at Cameroon expense
Burkina Faso – Stallions’ feat
Coach Kamou Malo side hopes to finish the tournament on a good note, and finish in third place, like they did in their last appearance in Gabon 2017.
Burkina Faso will also seek revenge against the Indomitable Lions, who won the tournament’s opener 2-1 last month during the group stage.
The Burkinabe can celebrate an exceptional tournament by reaching the semifinals, but they remain unsatisfied as they were dreaming of a maiden AFCON trophy. But a place on the podium might be a consolation.
What they said
Kamou Malo (Coach, Burkina Faso)
“It is true that we are disappointed following our elimination in the semifinals, but we have to prepare ourselves properly to play this match for third place in the best conditions. We have to remobilize now. We are physically and mentally ready for play our game.”
Bertrand Traore (Captain, Burkina Faso)
“We are obviously down after our elimination, but we have to remobilize to get the bronze medal. At this level of the competition, we feel tired but we will do everything to have a good match and end the tournament on a good note.”
READ ALSO: AFCON 2021: Cameroon battle Egypt for a place in the final
Cameroon – Disappointed Lions
Decimated after their elimination on their own land, Cameroon seem that they still can't get out of this defeat.
Barely 48 hours after penalties’ heartbreak, the Indomitable Lions will have to regroup and try to give their faithful supporters something to cheer at.
“It's difficult to live in such a situation but that's football,” said Indomitable Lions goalkeeper André Onana. “We ask our supporters and all Cameroonians to stay around our young team. We have to go after our goals,” he added.
What they said
Antonio Conceiçao (Coach, Cameroon)
“The sadness is great especially when we do not achieve our objectives. The players have worked well, and I am proud of them. It is up to us to learn now and move forward. I give the best of myself to have the best results with this team. We wanted to write history, but it didn't work out".
André Onana (Goalkeeper, Cameroon)
“It's true that disappointment is great, but that's life. We have to regroup to win this third place this Saturday against Burkina Faso. We have to try to forget elimination in the semifinals and think about the future, especially this classification match and the World Cup qualifiers. We have confidence in ourselves, and we must recover quickly.”