In a thrilling opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023, Burkina Faso emerged victorious with a late 1-0 win over Mauritania. The match showcased the tenacity of both teams, with Burkina Faso’s Bertrand Traore stealing the spotlight with a crucial late goal.
Mauritania, still in pursuit of their first Africa Cup of Nations win, demonstrated resilience in the first half, creating several promising chances. However, Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper, Havre Koffi, stood tall when needed, making crucial saves to keep the Stallions in the game.
Bertrand Traore’s impact was felt when he entered the pitch as a substitute for Cedric Badolo, injecting more attacking threats for Hubert Velud’s side. The talented forward nearly opened the scoring with a curling effort from the penalty box, only to be thwarted by Mauritania’s goalkeeper, Babacar Niasse.
The turning point came in the closing stages when Issa Kabore was brought down in the box, prompting a VAR review and the subsequent awarding of a penalty to Burkina Faso. Substitute Bertrand Traore stepped up confidently, converting the penalty and securing all three points for Burkina Faso.
The late victory puts Burkina Faso on a promising trajectory in the tournament. Their next challenge awaits against Algeria on January 20, promising another exciting clash in the group stage.
Sportribune.com
