AFCON 2021: 5 things we learnt from opening day as Cameroon, Cape Verde won

There were slim wins on opening day for both the Indomitable Lions and the Blue Sharks.

Hosts Cameroon came through a serious test against Burkina Faso as they kicked off the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 2-1 win in the Group A opener at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé on Sunday.

In the second game of the day, Cape Verde succeeded in winning only their second game in AFCON history as Julio Tavares' first-half header saw off 10-man Ethiopia.

With Burkina Faso drawing first blood, Cameroon clawing their way to a win and Ethiopia falling at the first hurdle, we look at five things we learnt from the opening day.

• Cameroon might only survive the Group Stage

While Cameroon might have run away with a 2-1 victory, they did look far from convincing. The Indomitable Lions stole a larger chunk of possession from the game but shared the goal attempts almost evenly with a side many fancied as the underdogs.

Should Cameroon at any point of the competition be the underdog, they just might fail to survive a possible onslaught. Set-pieces and crosses into the box exposed Cameroon on opening day, a pattern of uncertainty which Burkina Faso capitalized on for their goal: something, if not fixed, we could see more of from Cameroon's opposition.

Captain Vincent Aboubakar scored twice from the spot as Cameroon beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in Yaounde

• Burkina Faso's lack of discipline in defending could haunt them

Two clumsy tackles by the Stallions' men Bertrand Traoré and Issoufou Dayo gifted Cameroon two opportunities to not just equalize, but take the lead in the game.

Burkina Faso also got the first card of the tournament, surprisingly, in the first minute of the game. Should they thrive in Group A, they would need to work extensively on their discipline. It is the only way they can have their best players available when they need them the most.

• VAR could be a game-changer, but is the goal line technology available?

While the video assistant referee (VAR) played in part in not just one, but four major incidents on matchday 1 across two games, Burkina Faso's attempts at goal before converting their match opener raised the question of if CAF are also employing the use of goal-line technology.

Perhaps the VAR might be used the verify such goal-line controversies should any arise, perhaps the referee might refer to a possibly available goal line technology in the event. But for now, we watch the game without certainty.

Burkina Faso had the first VAR call of the tournament go against them | IMAGO

• Cape Verde might be an unstoppable force in Group A

Despite starting their campaign without their coach Bubista, in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19, having just six substitutes on the bench with a further nine players isolating, and missing two due to injury, the Blue Sharks were able to get a 1-0 over Ethiopia.

One might argue that the win was largely due to Ethiopia's playing depleted for most of the game, but Cape Verde themselves were depleted even before the game started.

• Ethiopia are fighters but would need to do more than that

For the latter part of the first half, Ethiopia played like a side that had all 11-men on the field. They appeared to be gaining a psychological boost going into the break by keeping Cape Verde at bay, despite being down a player.

But that all changed when Julio Tavares headed home the winner for the island nation. If Ethiopia are to get anything out of their next set of group games, they would have to not just fight, but be levelheaded.