Burkina Faso snatched a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in a Group D game played Tuesday in Bouaké.
Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traore, who is currently on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir, scored an added time penalty to shock Mauritania.
In their third AFCON appearance, the Murabitouns have only put one goal in the history of the tournament. They weretrying to put an end to their goalless run since 2019, in vain.
Meanwhile, the Stallions made their first strike on target 10 minutes later when Mohamed Konate rose highest from a free-kick but saw his header comfortably saved by Mauritania’s goalkeeper Babacar Niasse.
The game went fiercer with a little more zest until Burkina Faso were given the chance in the added-time to make the decisive breakthrough following a VAR check, after Nouh El Abd fouled Issa Kabore inside the box.
Traore, a 73rd-minute substitute, ensured a first win in Burkina opener of the tournament in 13 attempts.
In the second game of the day, Namibia upset Tunisia with a 1-0 victory at at Korhogo’s Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.
With an 89th-minute header Deon Hotto made history for Brave Warriors who signed their first win at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Orlando Pirates star was a thorn in Tunisia’s side during all the game, working marvellously in tandem with Namibia’s captain and record scorer Peter Shalulile, who came close with several of his own opportunities either side of the break.
Until Tuesday, Namibia had claimed only two draws and lost seven of their nine games in their three AFCON appearances (1998, 2008 and 2019).
The last encounter of the day and second in Group E, Mali opened their AFCON encounter with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Korhogo stadium.
Captain Hamari Traore secured a second-half goal (60th mn) before Lassine Sinayoko doubled only six minutes later.
After Brighton forward Percy Tau missed a penalty (19th mn), South African side failed to grab again such a golden chance.
