Burkina Faso 1-0 Mauritania: Traore's added-time penalty
clinches win
Aston Villa’s Traore, a former Chelsea forward who is
currently on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir, netted in added time to decide the
Group D game in Bouake.
Mauritania, making their third appearance at the tournament,
were denied on two occasions in the first half as Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve
Koffi kept out efforts from striker Aboubakary Koita.
Mauritania have only scored one goal in the history of the
tournament and their goalless run since 2019 continued when Koffi denied Sidi
Amar in the second period, before Traore settled the contest late on.
The game’s first chance fell to Koita, who drilled straight
into the grasp of Koffi six minutes in.
Burkina Faso produced their first strike on target 10 minutes
later when Mohamed Konate rose highest from a free-kick but saw his header
comfortably saved by Babacar Niasse.
Mauritania were looking for their first ever win in the competition
and came close to the opener half an hour in when Koffi was wrong-footed by a
Koita free-kick but recovered to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
Mauritania, ranked 48 places below their opponents in the
FIFA rankings, threatened again through Hemeya Tanjy but his effort from
outside the area was saved.
Burkina Faso started the second period with a little more
zest and had a chance when Stephane Aziz Ki received a ball from Issoufou Dayo
and shot just wide.
Mauritania almost snatched the lead in superb fashion with 15
minutes to go when substitute Amar twisted and turned outside the box before
unleashing an effort towards goal which was tipped wide by Koffi.
Burkina Faso, who had scored in their previous 14 AFCON
matches, were next to threaten when Traore’s curling strike was plucked out of
the top corner by goalkeeper Niasse.
They were given the chance to make the decisive breakthrough
in added time following a VAR check, after Nouh El Abd brought Issa Kabore down
inside the box.
Traore, a 73rd-minute substitute, stepped up and slammed the
ball home to ensure a first win in their opening game of the tournament in 13
attempts for Burkina Faso.
Source: Press Association
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