TotalEnergies U17 AFCON: Burkina Faso Make Way For SA As Defending Champions Cameroon, Bow Out

Defending Africa U-17 Cup of Nations champions Cameroon are eliminated from the 2023 edition following a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso to finish play from Group C. Burkina Faso advance to the quarterfinals as the runners-up in Group C where they will face Nigeria on Thursday to be one of Africa’s representatives at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year. For Cameroon, a second defeat from two matches leaves Les Lionceaux eliminated while South Africa’s spot in the quarterfinals is confirmed with Sunday’s result.

It was an even match on the final day that featured twists and turns throughout. The finishing for Cameroon continued to fail them after wastefulness cost the Lion Cubs in their opening match defeat to Mali. Essono Ndongo missed the goal in the 12th minute after Burkina Faso goalkeeper Isidore Traoré blocked an initial shot into the Cameroonian forward’s path and midfielder Sony Evina missed the target on another good opportunity in the 24th minute.

The teams continued to trade chances but after an excellent kick save from Traoré kept the match scoreless early in the second half, Cameroon finally got their goal soon after the hour mark when Dorinel Matah calmly rounded the Stallions keeper to finish. However, Burkina Faso were inspired by the threat of elimination and furiously rallied through Alio who equalized in the 76th minute by running onto a clever pass from Ousmane Camara to lift his finish over advancing Cameroon keeper Junior Abou Lopez.

Only a couple of minutes later, Alio was keen to spot Lopez coming far off his line once again to send Cameroon out of the competition with a low finish past the goalkeeper after collecting a long ball from Rachide Ouédraogo. Below are a list of quarterfinal matches:

May 10

Senegal vs. South Africa

Morocco vs. Algeria

May 11

Mali vs. Republic of Congo

Nigeria vs. Burkina Faso