Burkina Faso and Cameroon advanced to the African Nations Cup semifinals after getting through quarterfinal matches on Saturday.
Cameroon needed penalties to get past Senegal, winning the shootout 5-4 after a goalless 120 minutes.
After both teams were perfect through four rounds of spot kicks, Senegal’s Sadio Mane saw his attempt saved by Cameroon keeper Fabrice Ondoa, the Liverpool star then turning and muttering something under his breath.
“We have been studying this Senegal team for a long time,” Ondoa said. “I knew that Mane is a great player, he has a lot of great qualities. He is a big player. I have to wait in this penalty. I did not want to jump first and when he moved I tried to follow the path of the ball.”
Vincent Aboubakar then stepped up to blast underdogs Cameroon into the last four of the tournament, setting off wild celebrations from the players. Goalkeeper Ondoa leaped over the advertising boards and sprinted to the Cameroon fans, pursued by teammates and even coach Hugo Broos.
Senegal, among the favourites to win after an impressive start, had themselves to blame for their surprise elimination. The team missed chance after chance in normal and extra time, with Mane, Moussa Sow, Keita Balde and Henri Saivet all guilty of failing to convert good chances — either by missing the target, or finding Ondoa in the way.
Cameroon, missing some big-name players who made themselves unavailable for the tourament, will next play the winners of Sunday’s match between DR Congo and Ghana.
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