Highlights: AFCON 2024: Burkina Faso suffers but narrowly escapes against Mauritania. Bertrand Traoré scored from the penalty spot to give the Stallions a 1-0 win against the Mourabitounes. Cédric Badolo's powerful shot from the edge of the area grazed the crossbar in the first half. Mauritania's best chance with a volley ended up in the arms of the Burkinabe goalkeeper (31′). Stéphane Aziz Ki worried the opposing goalkeeper with a control in the box and a cross (50′)

Burkina Faso narrowly won against Mauritania (1-0), thanks to a penalty scored by Bertrand Traoré at the end of a sluggish match for the Stallions.

Summary

AFCON 2024: Burkina Faso suffers but narrowly escapes against Mauritania

Burkina Faso narrowly won against Mauritania (1-0), thanks to a penalty scored by Bertrand Traoré at the end of a sluggish match for the Stallions.

Burkina Faso's Bertrand Traoré celebrates the winning goal against Mauritania in Bouaké on January 16, 2024. © AFP / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

By: Valentin Berg Follow

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Burkina Faso was hot! For their debut in the competition, the Stallions did not convince and relied on a penalty scored by Bertrand Traoré to win against Mauritania (1-1).

The Stallions first took control of the match by showing more enterprising in the first quarter of an hour. Mohamed Konaté first distinguished himself during a good attacking sequence on the edge of the Mauritanian area, but he was caught by the defence before being able to finish his move (12'). On receiving a long free-kick in the deep, he popped up again to place a header, without being precise enough to really trouble Niasse (16′). With possession largely in their favour, the Burkinabe insisted and Cédric Badolo unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area that grazed the crossbar (17').

The Mourabitounes seemed to be off to a bad start as they then lost Aboubakar Kamara, one of their key players, to injury (24'). But Amir Abdou's men completely regained control of the match by inviting themselves more into the Stallions' box after 25 minutes of play. Aboubakary Koita forced Koffi into a close save from a floating free-kick (27′). Hemeya Tanjy had Mauritania's best chance with a volley that ended up in the arms of the Burkinabe goalkeeper (31′).

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Traoré saves Burkina Faso from the penalty spot

Still back-to-back after the break, neither team managed to wrap up the game in the second half. As at the beginning of the match, the first minutes were in favor of Burkina Faso but the Stallions lacked too much realism to open the scoring. Stéphane Aziz Ki worried the opposing goalkeeper with a control in the box and a cross (50′), before firing a volley that flew well over the Mauritanian goal (56′).

As the match began to get into a false rhythm, Amar Sidi Bouna had a great chance with Mauritania's only shot on target in the second half. After a series of dribbles on the edge of the area, he forced Koffi into a save to preserve the draw (77′). Bertrand Traoré almost replied a few minutes later, but the Mauritanian goalkeeper's save saved his attempt (83'). It was in injury time that the light came for the Stallions. Author of a poorly controlled tackle on Issa Kaboré in the box, Nouh El Abd allowed Bertrand Traoré to open the scoring from the penalty spot (90'+6, 1-0) and obtain a sluggish victory against the Mourabitounes.

AFCON 2024: Burkina Faso suffers but narrowly escapes against Mauritania

AFCON 2024: Burkina Faso suffers but narrowly escapes against Mauritania

Traoré saves Burkina Faso from the penalty spot

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