AFCON: Burkina Faso beat Mauritania with last-gasp penalty
Burkina Faso's forward #10 Bertrand Traore celebrates scoring his team's first goal from a penalty kick during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group D football match between Burkina Faso and Mauritania at Stade de la Paix in Bouake on January 16, 2024. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)
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Bertrand Traore came
off the bench to score a 96th-minute winner from the penalty spot as Burkina
Faso beat Mauritania 1-0 in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on
Tuesday.
The match in Bouake
was all set to finish in a goalless stalemate until Issa Kabore went down in
the box under a challenge from Mauritania defender Nouh El Abd four minutes
into stoppage time.
Called across to
review the tackle on the pitch side monitor, the Moroccan referee decided to
give a spot-kick and Traore, who has made just six appearances for Aston Villa
this season off the bench, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
The result means the
Stallions, runners-up at the 2013 AFCON, are top of Group D after rivals
Algeria and Angola drew 1-1 on Monday.
Burkina Faso's next
outing is against Algeria in Bouake on Saturday.
Appearing at their
third consecutive Cup of Nations, Mauritania are still without a win at the
tournament in seven attempts.
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