YAOUNDE - Hosts Cameroon overcame another hesitant start to crush Ethiopia 4-1 on Thursday and advance to the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations with their second successive Group A victory.
Captain Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko-Ekambi both scored twice as Cameroon turned in a strong second-half performance and advanced to six points after also winning their opening game against Burkina Faso.
But the triumph over Ethiopia at the Olembé Stadium was much more convincing and will come as a morale boost as they carry a major burden of expectation.
Ethiopia made a shock start as they caught Cameroon’s defense napping, with Amanuel Aregawi delivering a square ball into the area and Dawa Hottesa Dukele getting in front of his marker to slot home the pass.
⚽️ Dawa Hotessa le da la ventaja a Etiopía#TeamCameroon 0-1 #TeamEthiopia ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/RTDSTbO3eF
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 13, 2022
It was the second time Cameroon trailed in the tournament, but they needed only four minutes to equalize. Collins Fai, who had proven slovenly in defense when Ethiopia scored their goal, made amends with a quality cross and Toko-Ekambi took advantage of poor marking to head home in the eighth minute.
⚽️ Karl Toko Ekambi le da la ventaja a @FecafootOfficie #TeamCameroon 1-1 #TeamEthiopia ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/uEgGIHTkEv
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 13, 2022
The French-born striker rattled the woodwork with a header but Ethiopia were also dangerous on the counter-attack, catching out Cameroon repeatedly with their pace even if they did not have much possession. But they wilted soon after the start of the second half as Aboubakar scored twice in as many minutes.
He headed home Collins’s cross in the 53rd minute and slid home a similar square ball from Moumi Ngamaleu.
⚽️ Vincent Abobuakar anota el segundo de @FecafootOfficie #TeamCameroon 2-1 #TeamEthiopia ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bjyl8WxVq1
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 13, 2022
⚽️ En menos de nada, doblete de Vincent Abobuakar para @FecafootOfficie #TeamCameroon 3-1 #TeamEthiopia ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Wcxhiib3fa
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 13, 2022
Toko-Ekambi scored his second, and Cameroon’s fourth, in the 67th minute.
⚽️ Karl Toko Ekambi también tiene su doblete y ya es goleada de @FecafootOfficie #TeamCameroon 4-1 #TeamEthiopia ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/dNNhEyZE9D
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 13, 2022
"We were mentally ready for this game. This is a big boost for the tournament and we hope we have more spectators for our next game," he told a news conference. COVID restrictions meant the newly built Olembé Stadium was around 20 percent full for the match.
Burkina Faso and the Cape Verde Islands meet later on Thursday in Group A.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson, editing by Ed Osmond)
