Yago’s dangerous challenge came inside the first minute of AFCON
Burkina Faso defender Steeve Yago has apologised after he somehow escaped a red card for an awful challenge just 38 seconds into the opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament saw its first controversial moment less than one minute into the tie as Yago made a crunching tackle on Cameroon’s Collins Fai, which saw him requiring treatment.
Yago – who plays for Cypriot First Division club Aris Limassol – received a booking for his challenge, but it would be more than fair to say that the centre-back could’ve easily seen red.
However, the Burkina Faso international has since apologised for his challenge in the opening match of AFCON, which Cameroon won 2-1.
He wrote on Twitter: “Not the expected result for this first match of [AFCON].
“I want to apologise to Collins Fai for my dangerous tackle at the start of the match. Focus on the next match.”
Pas le résultat attendu pour ce premier match de la #CAN2021
Je tiens à m’excuser auprès de @faicollins pour mon tacle dangereux en début de match !
Focus sur le prochain match 🇧🇫⚽️ #TeamBurkinaFaso— Steeve Yago (@steeveyago) January 9, 2022
Fai replied in good spirits, saying: “It happens @steeveyago good luck for the rest of the tournament.”
https://twitter.com/faicollins/status/1480312460389363716
Toni Conceição’s side made a positive start to their campaign with the 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso.
It came after Burkina Faso took a shock lead through Gustavo Sangaré in the 24th minute, but Cameroon did respond well and were level in the 40th minute courtesy of captain Vincent Aboubakar’s penalty.
The Al-Nassr forward soon got his and the Indomitable Lions’ second with another penalty after Issoufou Dayo made an unnecessary foul inside the box.
The host nation later had the ball in the net following a counter-attack, but Aboubakar’s strike was ruled out for offside.
Conceição’s men play Ethiopia in their next fixture on Thursday, while Burkina Faso face-off against Cape Verde at the Olembé Stadium on the same day.
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