Bertrand Traore scored a dramatic 96th-minute penalty, securing Burkina Faso’s first-ever win in their opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations. The historic victory, coming at the 13th attempt, unfolded at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, as Aston Villa midfielder Traore calmly converted the spot-kick after a foul on Issa Kabore by Mauritania captain Mohamed El Abd.
Despite Burkina Faso’s dominance in possession, Mauritania created better chances, testing goalkeeper Herve Koffi, who displayed excellent reflexes throughout the match. The 1-0 win places Burkina Faso at the top of Group D after the first round of matches, with Algeria surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Angola on Monday.
The spot-kick decision, initially overlooked by the referee but correctly awarded after Video Assistant Referee intervention, secured Burkina Faso’s victory in a tightly contested match. The Burkinabe goalkeeper, Koffi, made crucial saves, denying Mauritania from finding the net.
Burkina Faso’s win extends their scoring streak to 15 consecutive Cup of Nations matches, the longest active streak and the second longest in the tournament’s history. Despite facing injury setbacks, including the loss of former Fulham striker Aboubakar Kamara, Mauritania fought bravely but suffered a late heartbreak.
Burkina Faso will aim to build on this historic win as they continue their AFCON campaign, while Mauritania faces a challenging path forward after a valiant effort.
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