Round of 16 ticket up for grabs for Cameroon and Cape Verde

Five-time African champions Cameroon will be seeking to confirm their place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 with a game to spare when they take on Ethiopia in their second Group A match of the tournament that is set to be staged at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé.

Having emphatically come from behind to win their opening game 2-1 against Burkina Faso, the Indomitable Lions will once again be hoping to produce another thrilling performance when they take to the pitch in front of their vociferous home crowd.

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Heading into the tie, the Antonio Conceiçao coached side will feel confident if history is anything to go by as they are unbeaten in their last seven group stage games at the Afcon (W3 D4) since their last such defeat that came in January 2015 which was a narrow 0-1 loss against Côte d'Ivoire.

"We prepared for our match in the best conditions and with the same determination as the first match played and won against Burkina Faso. All the players are ready for Thursday's meeting," Cameroon's head coach Conceiçao remarked prior to the game.

1.25 Cameroon 5.70 Ethiopia 20.0

On the other hand, Ethiopia need to win their tie against the hosts if they are to harbour any slim chance of progressing out of the group stages.

And after losing 1-0 to Cape Verde in their first match of the delayed tournament, the Walia Ibex are now winless in their last nine AFCON matches (D3 L6), the longest current such run among teams in this year’s edition.

Despite that poor record, head coach Wubetu Abate vowed that his team will fight till the end as they battle for their own course.

"We will play our chances to the end, especially as we will face a great team from Cameroon. We are proud to represent our country in this tournament and that boosts us even more. We will play against the host country, in front of their home crowd. They are a strong opponent but we will do our best to have a good game," the coach remarked.

Cameroon and Ethiopia’s only previous AFCON encounter was in the group stages of the 1970 tournament that Cameroon won 3-2.

Cape Verde vs Burkina Faso

In the second tie of the day, Cape Verde also have a chance of sealing their place in the round of 16 when they take on a grieving Burkina Faso at the same Olembe Stadium in what will be the first-ever tie between the two sides in an Afcon tourney.

3.40 Cape Verde 2.95 Burkina Faso 2.55

Burkina Faso, who let slip their advantage in their 2-1 loss against Cameroon in the opener, will be boosted by the return of head coach Kamou Malo and other players who tested Covid-19 positive in the first game but are now fully back with the squad.

But with the side missing the services of Aston Villa ace Bertrand Traore who is the team captain, Malo will need to dig deep in order to inspire his side past the Cape Verdeans.

"I missed the team's first game because of COVID. The result was disappointing even though the team did well. We are preparing well for our game against Cape Verde and we have a group of young players who can all give a plus. Against Cape Verde, it will be my baptism of fire in a major competition such as AFCON but I am very happy to join my team again and be a coach in this kind of tournament," the tactician said.

For Cape Verde, the plan will be to secure another win to get the qualifying job done with one game to spare.

"We have some absentees, of course, but we have made a good preparation for this match against Burkina Faso and we will play a different game than the first match to try to win the three points and thus secure a place in the next round of competition ", said the Cape Verdean assistant coach Humberto Bettencourt.