Afcon 2023: Burkina Faso 1-0 Mauritania – Bertrand Traore scores a late penalty

Burkina Faso have scored in each of their last 15 Afcon games – a competition record

Bertrand Traore scored a 96th-minute penalty to ensure Burkina Faso narrowly beat Mauritania in their opening Group D African Cup of Nations game.

Substitute Traore sent Mauritanian goalkeeper Babacar Niasse the wrong way from the penalty spot after Nouh Mohamed El Abd fouled Issa Kabore in the box.

Mauritania were just minutes away from their third point at the Afcon.

Burkina Faso reached the semi-finals in three of the last five Afcons but were far from their best in Bouake.

Villas Traore saves stallions

Burkina Faso looked set to follow favorites Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria, who failed to win their opening game.

They created several chances at the humid Stade de la Paix, with Adama Guira sending a shot just over the crossbar in the opening minutes.

Mauritania goalkeeper Niasse also had to make two great late saves, parrying Stephane Aziz Ki's shot from a tight angle and tipping a powerful shot from Traore over the crossbar.

When Luton's Kabore went down in the penalty area, Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed had initially stopped the game, but reversed his decision after the video assistant referee (VAR) advised him to consult the pitchside monitor.

And the stalemate was finally broken by Aston Villa's Traore, who was accurate from the penalty spot.

The result was tough for Mauritania, who are still looking for their first Afcon win.

They were the better side from the start as Stallions goalkeeper Herve Koffi brilliantly tipped Aboubakary Koita's free-kick over the crossbar in the first half.

And in the second half, Koffi made a great save to deny Sidi Amar, leaving Mauritania unable to score Afcon's second goal.

Lineups

Burkina Faso

formation 4-2-3-1

16Coffee

9Kabore14let's go12Tapsoba25Avoid

24Guira22Toure

11Bangre17To8thBadolo

13Konate

• 16Coffee
• 9Kabore
• 14let's go
• 12Tapsoba
• 25Avoid
• 24Guira
• 22ToureBooked for 47 minutes
• 11BangreReplaced byTapsobaat 45'protocolBooked for 76 minutes
• 17ToReplaced bytapeat 86'protocol
• 8thBadoloReplaced byTraoreat 73'protocol
• 13KonateBooked for 45 minutesReplaced byOuattaraat 85'protocol

Substitute

• 1Konate
• 2Ouattara
• 3Guibré
• 4forget it
• 5Djiga
• 10Traore
• 15Tapsoba
• 18Ouédraogo
• 19tape
• 20Sangaré
• 23Nikiema
• 26Hello

Mauritania

formation 4-4-2

16Niasse

20Keita13The Abd5Ba3A bed

10Thiam4Gassama6Breathe9Thanks

19Koita27Camara

• 16Niasse
• 20Keita
• 13The AbdBooked for 90 minutes
• 5BaReplaced byDellahiat 67'protocol
• 3A bedBooked for 90 minutes
• 10ThiamReplaced byBaat 58'protocol
• 4Gassama
• 6BreatheReplaced byNgomat 67'protocol
• 9ThanksReplaced byAmarat 57'protocol
• 19Koita
• 27CamaraReplaced byAnneat 28'protocol

Substitute

• 1Diaw
• 2Diaw
• 7Ba
• 11Anne
• 12Camara
• 14Dellahi
• 15Doukara
• 18The Abd
• 22N'Diaye
• 23Amar
• 24N'Diaye
• 26Ngom

Live text

1. The match ends: Burkina Faso 1, Mauritania 0.

2. The second half ends, Burkina Faso 1, Mauritania 0.

3. 70'yellow cardAly Abeid (Mauritania) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

4. Djibril Ouattara (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. Foul by Aly Abeid (Mauritania).

6. Foul by Abdoul Tapsoba (Burkina Faso).

7. Omaré Gassama (Mauritania) wins a free kick in the opponent's half.

8. Goal! Burkina Faso 1, Mauritania 0. Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.

9. Nouh El Abd (Mauritania) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

10. VAR decision: Penalty Burkina Faso.

11. Delay over. You are ready to move on.

12. Game delayed due to injury to Issa Kaboré (Burkina Faso).

13. Penalty kick Burkina Faso. Issa Kaboré commits a foul in the penalty area.

14. Nouh El Abd (Mauritania) concedes a penalty for a foul in the penalty area.

15. Issa Kaboré (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick on the right wing.

16. Foul by Aly Abeid (Mauritania).

17. Hassane Bandé (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the opponent's half.

18. Foul by Omaré Gassama (Mauritania).

19. Attempt saved. Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Supported by Edmond Tapsoba.

20. Substitution Burkina Faso. Hassane Bandé replaces Aziz Ki.