Burkina Faso avoided a false start in the Africa Cup of Nations at the very last second: Leverkusen’s Tapsoba saved the West Africans against underdogs Equatorial Guinea at the last second. But it was someone else who wrote the story of the game.
Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea met in Casablanca for the opening match of Group E. The favorites from West Africa dominated the game from the start, but failed to capitalize on their chances.
The decisive moment in the first half came after half an hour: Burkina Faso’s Ouedraogo from Odense BK tackled his opponent Akopo with his leg outstretched at knee height. Referee Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour gave him a yellow card and was not corrected by the VAR, even though the foul was clearly worthy of a red card. After just a few minutes, Equatorial Guinea’s Ndong Sunderland’s Bertrand Traoré made a nasty tackle on the ankle. Mansour again showed a yellow card, but this time the VAR intervened and called the referee to the video screen. Mansour then corrected himself and showed a straight red card – the correct decision (50′).
Burkina Faso’s dominance increased in the following period, but a goal by Lassina Traoré of Shakhtar Donetsk was disallowed for offside (73′). And then Equatorial Guinea even struck from a set piece: after a corner from the left, Anieboh rose highest and headed home to give the underdogs a surprise lead (85′).
Burkina Faso then pushed hard for the equalizer, but Equatorial Guinea defended resolutely despite being a man down and allowed few chances. But in stoppage time, substitute Minoungou was on hand to score the equalizer from close range (90+5). Minoungou of all people: the 23-year-old from Seattle Sounders is almost blind in his left eye after an infection, and doctors had virtually ruled out a professional career. But the striker did not let that deter him and rewarded himself with an important goal for his home country.
Leverkusen’s Tapsoba in the right place at the right time
But that wasn’t all: Burkina Faso then completely turned the result around and avoided a false start. After a cross from the right by Irié, Leverkusen’s Tapsoba was in the right place at the right time with the last action of the game and headed in the 2-1 winning goal (90+8).
Burkina Faso will continue in Group E against Algeria next Sunday (6:30 p.m.). Equatorial Guinea will face Sudan at 4 p.m.
