Burkina Faso’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign burst into life in Casablanca earlier today, December 24, as the Stallions came from behind astonishingly to secure a dramatic late victory over Equatorial Guinea.
Brama Traoré’s side had arrived at the tournament in a confident mood after a strong run of results and, ranked 35 places above their opponents, were widely expected to impose themselves.
The early stages suggested just that. Bertrand Traoré and Issoufou Dayo both went close as Burkina Faso pressed forward, but Juan Michá’s Equatorial Guinea side dug in bravely.
Clear chances were rare, with Luís Asué and José Machín wasting long-range efforts for the National Thunder, while Dango Ouattara was denied by a superb sliding challenge from Pablo Ganet when space opened up invitingly down the left. The lack of cutting edge was reflected at the interval, with neither team registering a shot on target.
The match turned shortly after the restart when VAR intervened to upgrade Basilio Ndong’s booking to a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Bertrand Traoré’s right ankle.
10-man Equatorial Guinea retreated further, prompting Michá to introduce Charles Ondo for Asué in a bid to hold firm. Burkina Faso pushed harder, with Ouattara testing Jesús Owono and Pierre Landry Kaboré heading wide, but the breakthrough continued to elude them.
That sense of frustration deepened when substitute Lassina Traoré thought he had finally scored, only for a lengthy VAR check to rule the goal out for offside. Against the run of play, Equatorial Guinea then stunned the favourites in the 85th minute as Marvin Anieboh rose highest to power home a header from Carlos Akapo’s corner.
What followed was a breathtaking finale. Georgi Minoungou dragged Burkina Faso level deep into stoppage time with a crisp finish, before Edmond Tapsoba completed the turnaround in the 98th minute, heading in from close range to spark wild celebrations among the Stallions’ players and supporters.
Earlier in Group E, the Algeria national football team laid down an emphatic marker with a dominant 3-0 victory over the Sudan national football team at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat. With expectations high following a mixed build-up to the tournament, Algeria wasted no time in asserting control.
The breakthrough arrived almost immediately. Just two minutes in, Riyad Mahrez drifted into space on the edge of the area before steering home a composed finish to give Sudan an early problem to solve.
The Desert Foxes monopolised possession thereafter, patiently probing while Sudan struggled to escape their own half.
Sudan’s task became significantly harder shortly before the interval when Salaheldin Adel was shown a second yellow card for a rash challenge, leaving his side down to 10 men.
Algeria continued to dominate after the restart and were rewarded on the hour, Mahrez striking again with a crisp effort after clever build-up play involving Mohamed Amoura.
With the points already within reach, Algeria maintained their intensity rather than settling. Substitute Ibrahim Maza added the gloss in the 85th minute, arriving late in the box to make it 3-0 and put the contest beyond doubt. The result sent Algeria top of the group after the opening round.
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