Vincent Aboubakar scored a brace of penalties to give hosts Cameroon a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso on Sunday in Yaounde as the Africa Cup of Nations finally got underway after a build-up troubled by the coronavirus. "It was an important victory for us," said Toni Conceicao, the Portuguese coach of Cameroon. The 33rd Cup of Nations was then postponed last year because of the pandemic. Vahid Halilhodzic's Morocco are missing players due to Covid while their star striker, Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri, is carrying an injury. Malawi, appearing at just their third AFCON, are due to play Guinea in Bafoussam before tournament debutants the Comoros meet Gabon.

Source: The Nation January 10, 2022 21:37 UTC