Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea: Les Étalons' last-minute goals turn the tide

Two stoppage-time strikes ensured Burkina Faso claimed an incredible 2-1 comeback victory over 10-man Equatorial Guinea, extending their winning run to five games after a pulsating Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E opener.

Match Report

Burkina Faso boss Brama Traoré oversaw a series of fine results heading into AFCON, and would have been quietly confident that his side had an outside chance of challenging for a first-ever title. They came into this clash sitting 35 places above the National Thunder in FIFA rankings, and were keen to assert their dominance here, with early chances falling to Bertrand Traoré and Issoufou Dayo.

Nonetheless, Juan Michá’s side remained resolute without creating much going forward themselves. Their only chances of note came when Luís Asué blazed his effort over the bar, before José Machín also failed to find the target from distance. Dango Ouattara then spurned a golden opportunity to fire Burkina Faso in front after being given far too much space on the left, but Pablo Ganet made a superb sliding tackle to thwart Brentford’s record signing. It epitomised a first half lacking in attacking quality, with neither side mustering a shot on target between them heading into HT.

Equatorial Guinea were reduced to 10 men just five minutes after the restart when the intervention of VAR upgraded Basilio Ndong’s punishment to a straight red card after a studs-up challenge on B. Traoré’s right ankle. It was the first sending off at this year’s AFCON, prompting Michá to reshuffle his pack and opt for more defensive conservatism with the introduction of Charles Ondo for Asué. Eager to make their one-man advantage count, Gustavo Sangaré played through Ouattara, who fired his effort straight at Jesús Owono, shortly before Pierre Landry Kaboré headed wide from Arsène Kouassi's enticing delivery.

Lassina Traoré thought he had given Burkina Faso a long-awaited breakthrough within a minute of coming on from the bench after converting with a volley from Ouattara’s header across the box, but a lengthy VAR review ultimately ruled out the strike for offside. However, Equatorial Guinea broke the deadlock with 85 minutes on the clock when Marvin Anieboh manoeuvered his body brilliantly to power home a header from Carlos Akapo’s corner.

That looked to have sealed a remarkable victory for Michá’s team, but Georgi Minoungou rifled home a clinical strike to draw level deep into stoppage time. Remarkably, Burkina Faso then turned the game on its head in the 98th minute when Edmond Tapsoba was on hand to head home from inside the box, sparking wild scenes of celebration in Casablanca as the Stallions took an early lead in the group.

Line-ups

Burkina Faso XI: Traore, Yago, Issoufou Dayo, Toure, Hervé Koffi, Tapsoba, Gustavo Sangaré, Pierre Landry Kabore, Ismahila Ouédraogo, Dango Ouattara, Arsène Kouassi

Subs: Saïdou Simporé, Stephane Aziz Ki, Traore, Cedric Badolo, Kilian Nikièma, Issa Kaboré, Farid Ouédraogo, Adamo Nagalo, Nasser Djiga, Ousseni Bouda, Mohamed Zougrana, Cyriaque Irié, Abdoul Ayinde, Georgi Minoungou

Equatorial Guinea XI: Mascarell, Carlos Akapo, Iban Salvador, Pablo Ganet, Pepín Machín, Esteban Orozco, Basilio Ndong, Saúl Coco, Jesús Owono, Luis Asué, Loren Zúñiga

Subs: Emilio Nsue, Obiang, Manuel Sapunga, Aitor Embela, Marvin Anieboh, Jannick Buyla, Santiago Eneme, Álex Masogo, Álex Balboa, Dorian Hanza, Gael Akogo Esono, Néstor Senra, Javier Mum, Charles Ondo, Nabil Ondó