Burkina Faso pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks of Africa Cup of Nations, scoring twice in stoppage time to beat Equatorial Guinea 2–1 in the Group E opener.
Equatorial Guinea, reduced to 10 men early in the second half, had looked set to secure a shock result. Anieboh gave them the lead in the 85th minute with a powerful header from a corner, sending their bench into celebration.
Burkina Faso, however, refused to accept defeat. In the fifth minute of added time, substitute Minoungou reacted quickest to a scramble in the box to fire home the equaliser. Moments later, Edmond Tapsoba rose highest to head in the winner, completing a remarkable turnaround and sparking wild celebrations.
Photo Credit: Backpix
The first half ended goalless, with Burkina Faso enjoying the majority of possession but struggling to create clear chances. Bertrand Traoré and Dango Ouattara found space on the flanks, but Equatorial Guinea’s deep defensive block limited opportunities.
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The match turned in Burkina Faso’s favour early in the second half when Equatorial Guinea defender Ndong was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a clumsy challenge. With the numerical advantage, Burkina Faso pressed forward, committing nearly all outfield players into attack.
Photo Credit: Imago
Despite their dominance, frustration grew. Headers from Dayo and Tapsoba drifted wide, Ouattara fired straight at goalkeeper Jesús Owono, and a goal from substitute Lassina Traoré was ruled out for offside. Equatorial Guinea slowed the tempo and drew fouls to manage the clock as the game entered its final stages.
In a stunning finish, Burkina Faso’s late persistence paid off, turning what looked like a likely defeat into one of the tournament’s most memorable wins.
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Burkina Faso will travel to Rabat on Sunday for their second group fixture against Algeria, while Equatorial Guinea remain in Casablanca for a clash against Sudan.
