Cape Verde 1-1 Cameroon: Vincent Aboubakar strike ensures hosts remain unbeaten as they reach knock-out stage as group winners – but opponents now left sweating over progression after third place finish
- Vincent Aboubakar struck in the first half for Cameroon against Cape Verde
- Garry Rodrigues came off the bench at half-time before quickly equalising
- Result means Cameroon progress to the last-16 as group winners
- Burkina Faso join them in the next round as runners-up after draw with Ethiopia
- Cape Verde though do have a fair chance of qualifying as a best third place side
Cameroon gave up a second-half goal to the Cape Verde as they were held to a 1-1 draw but the hosts still finished top of Group A in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Captain Vincent Aboubakar scored his fifth goal of the tournament to put Cameroon in the lead in the 39th minute before half-time substitute Garry Rodrigues equalised in the 53rd minute.
Rodrigues’ audacious back flick ensured Cape Verde finished with four points in third place in the standings. They are likely to advance as one of four best third placed finishers.
Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar applauds fans after his side progressed as group winners
Burkina Faso finished second, also with four points, after a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in the other Group A match.
More to follow…
Group A reaches its conclusion on Monday afternoon with Cape Verde and Burkina Faso fighting it out to join Cameroon in the AFCON last-16.
The host nation come into their final group stage match against Cape Verde in Yaounde safe in the knowledge they have qualified.
Burkina Faso, who take on Ethiopia in Bafoussam at the same time, and Cape Verde both have three points with the former ahead by virtue of their 1-0 win over the latter on matchday two.
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