Burkina Faso and Cameroon Clash in Group B Opener at U17 Africa Cup
Burkina Faso and Cameroon meet in Group B of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca, marking their fourth finals encounter. Burkina Faso has historically had the upper hand, advancing from every past group meeting, while Cameroon seeks to improve after a challenging record in their recent tournaments.
Burkina Faso and Cameroon are set to commence their Group B journey in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Monday at 17:00 local time. This marks the fourth encounter between the two nations within the tournament’s finals, having previously met three times, yielding two draws and one victory for Burkina Faso. Notably, all previous meetings have occurred during the group stages.
Historically, Burkina Faso has performed favorably against Cameroon, advancing from their group during all three prior encounters. Conversely, Cameroon progressed just once in 1999. Burkina Faso has consistently reached the top three placements in their finals appearances against Cameroon, securing the runner-up position in 1999 and 2001, while achieving third place in 2023.
Burkina Faso is making its eighth appearance in the finals, an achievement surpassed only by Nigeria, Mali, and Cameroon. Having clinched the championship title in 2011 and the runner-up status in 1999 and 2001, Burkina Faso has only failed to advance past the group stages on two occasions, in 2005 and 2007. Their recent performance in the 2023 finals saw them securing third place following a progression from the group stage despite an initial loss to Mali.
The team made a significant impact during their debut in 1999, reaching the final after drawing against Cameroon and defeating Guinea. In their 2001 campaign, they again reached the final after drawing with Cameroon in the group stage. Their victory in 2011, coming after a defeat in their opening match, exemplifies their resilience. Furthermore, Edouard Dambre is noted as the sole player based outside Burkina Faso, currently playing in Qatar.
Cameroon, on the other hand, will participate for the ninth time, with their first appearance in 1999. They have twice lifted the trophy, with victories in 2003 and 2019. Their opening game record at the tournament shows two wins, one draw, and five losses. Despite a promising win in 2019 against Guinea, Cameroon lost their most recent opening match to Mali in 2023 and has only advanced past the group stage once in their last five appearances.
Under Coach Alioum Saidou, a former Indomitable Lions player, Cameroon aims to replicate the success of the senior national team which was victorious at the 1988 AFCON in Morocco. The team’s qualifying campaign was impressive, scoring 22 goals and conceding just one across three matches.
In summation, the upcoming match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations promises to be a critical encounter for both teams. Burkina Faso boasts a strong historical advantage in their meetings and a commendable overall tournament performance, while Cameroon strives to break free from recent struggles. Both teams will be eager to set a positive tone for their campaigns in this prestigious tournament.
Original Source: www.cafonline.com
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