AFCON21: Cameroon seal last 16 berth with Ethiopia rout, Stallions sink Blue Sharks

Hosts Cameroon were the first nation to book a berth in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021 knockout stage with a match to spare after strolling to a 4-1 win over Ethiopia at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé.

The Indomitable Lions top Group A on 6 points from two games, with a final group game against Cape Verde on Monday January 17 at Paul Biya Stadium, Olembé.

The Waliya Antelopes stunned the hosts with an early deadlock break inside four minutes through a Dawa Dukele who finished a sweeping counter.

Cameroon repeated their comeback prowess as they did in their opening Group A game but this time Captain Vincent Aboubakar and strike partner Toko Ekambi scored a brace each after Dawa Dukele had given Ethiopia the lead.

The hosts raised their tally to six points to secure their Round of 16 spot, while Ethiopia remained pointless after two games.

The Indomitable Lions have now recorded back-to-back wins ahead of their last Group A match against Cape Verde.

Cameroon play Cape Verde next in their final Group A encounter whiles Burkina Faso will hope to maintain a second spot in the group when they come face to face against Ethiopia.

Stallions beat Cape Verde

In other Group A game, Burkina Faso prevailed with a solitary goal against a resilient Cape Verdean side at Paul Biya Stadium, Olembé.

Forward Boureima Bande scored with his chest to help the Stallions beat Cape Verde to place second in Group A.

The Stallions who lost their opening match to hosts Cameroon came into the West African derby without captain Bertrand Traore, who tested positive for Covid-19.

Cape Verde spurned a great opportunity to break the deadlock on the half hour mark in Yaoundé.

Bande scored his dream goal with his chest from to give Burkina Faso an important win to rekindle their chances of making the knockout stages.

Burkina Faso will hope to maintain a second spot in the group when they come face to face against Ethiopia whiles the Blue Sharks face hosts Cameroon in their final Group encounter.