Burkina Faso with the win now top Group D after Angola held Algeria to a 1-1 draw on Monday night
By Kehinde Okeowo
Burkina Faso narrowly beat Mauritania 1-0 in a Group D game played at the Stade de la Paix de Bouaké on Tuesday afternoon.
It was a very tight encounter, as both teams had identical stats in terms of shots on goal, even though the Stallions dominated ball possession.
The only goal of the match was, however, scored from the spot in the 96th minute after Mauritania player, Nouh Mohamed El Abd was adjusted to have fouled Issa Kabore in the penalty area.
Substitute Bertrand Traore stepped forward and sent Mauritania keeper, Babacar Niasse the wrong way to make it 1-0 to Bukina Faso.
The Stallions headed into the clash as favourites, given their form before the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’ivore.
Prior to the Group D game, Burkina Faso have suffered only one defeat in their last five, and that was against Iran in a friendly.
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They recorded a 2-1 win over D.R. Congo and had previously beaten Mauritania, in a friendly in 2023.
However, they headed into the fixture winless in their last four, scoring just one goal.
Mauritania, meanwhile, made their third consecutive and third-ever appearance in AFCON during the encounter.
Before the match, they faced Tunisia at the Stade Hammadi Agrebi last weekend in a friendly clash which ended goalless.
In the other game in the group, Algeria became the latest 2023 Africa Cup of Nations contenders to make a slow start to the tournament after being held to a draw by Angola.
Baghdad Bounedjah put the Algerians ahead in the first half, but they were pegged back on the hour by Mabululu’s penalty.