Cameroon produced an epic fightback from 3-0 down to finish at 3-3 before winning the third-place match against Burkina Faso in a 5-3 penalty shootout at the African Cup of Nations on Saturday.
It won't erase the host team's disappointment at missing out on the final but it meant Cameroon at least ended its tournament with a win.
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Cameroon produced an epic fightback from 3-0 down to finish at 3-3 before winning the third-place match against Burkina Faso in a 5-3 penalty shootout at the African Cup of Nations on Saturday.
Tournament leading scorer Vincent Aboubakar came on as a second-half substitute to turn things around for Cameroon.
The penalty miss allowed Ambroise Oyongo to step up and win the shootout for Cameroon and at least soften the pain of losing in a shootout to Egypt in the semifinals.
Cameroon's Stephane Bahoken, right, jumps for the ball with Burkina Faso's Edmond Tapsoba during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Burkina Faso's Steeve Yago, right, celebrates with a teammate after scoring a goal against Cameroon during the African Cup of Nations 2022 third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoSunday Alamba)
Burkina Faso's Cheick Djibril Ouattara celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon, at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Burkina Faso's captain Bertrand Traore, left, celebrates with teammate Cheick Djibril Ouattara after scoring his team's third goal during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
That outcome seemed far-fetched when Burkina Faso went 3-0 up in the 49th minute with a header by Djibril Ouattara.
Cameroon's Malong Kunde, centre is challenged by Burkina Faso's Ismahila Ouedraogo, right, during the African Cup of Nations 2022 third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoSunday Alamba)
Tournament leading scorer Vincent Aboubakar came on as a second-half substitute to turn things around for Cameroon.
Stéphane Bahoken pulled the first goal back for Cameroon and Aboubakar scored in the 85th and 87th minutes, helped by two errors by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Farid Ouédraogo, to send the game to penalties.
Blati Touré had the only miss in the shootout, when Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana saved down low with his left hand to make up for his own blunder and own-goal in normal time.
Burkina Faso's Cheick Djibril Ouattara, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
The penalty miss allowed Ambroise Oyongo to step up and win the shootout for Cameroon and at least soften the pain of losing in a shootout to Egypt in the semifinals.
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Burkina Faso's Issa Kabore, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the African Cup of Nations 2022 third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoSunday Alamba)
Cameroon's Stephane Bahoken, right, jumps for the ball with Burkina Faso's Edmond Tapsoba during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Burkina Faso's Steeve Yago, right, celebrates with a teammate after scoring a goal against Cameroon during the African Cup of Nations 2022 third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoSunday Alamba)
Burkina Faso's Cheick Djibril Ouattara celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon, at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Burkina Faso's captain Bertrand Traore, left, celebrates with teammate Cheick Djibril Ouattara after scoring his team's third goal during the African Cup of Nations 2022, third place soccer match between Burkina Faso and Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)