Burkina Faso produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat 10-man Equatorial Guinea 2–1 in their Group E encounter at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, December 24, at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.
The Stallions left it late, with Edmond Tapsoba scoring the decisive goal deep into stoppage time to cap an extraordinary turnaround.
The match was evenly contested and goalless at halftime, but the momentum shifted five minutes after the restart when a VAR review upgraded Basilio Ndong’s yellow card to a straight red for a studs-up challenge on Bertrand Traoré, leaving Equatorial Guinea to play the remainder of the game with ten men.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Equatorial Guinea took a shock lead in the 85th minute.
Substitute Marvin Anieboh rose unmarked to power a superb header into the top corner from a Carlos Akapo cross.
With eight minutes of added time signalled, Burkina Faso threw bodies forward and were rewarded when Georgi Minoungou latched onto a precise pass, aided by a clever touch from Dango Ouattara, before calmly slotting home a low finish to level the score.
Equatorial Guinea barely had time to regroup before Burkina Faso struck again.
Tapsoba reacted quickest after goalkeeper Jesús Owono could only parry a cross into his path, heading home the rebound in the dying seconds to seal a remarkable victory.
Sunderland forward Bertrand Traoré was heavily involved throughout, including the incident that led to Ndong’s dismissal, while Dango Ouattara endured a frustrating afternoon despite repeatedly forcing Owono into action.
Burkina Faso now take a significant step toward the knockout stage and will travel to Rabat on Sunday, December 28, to face Algeria in their second Group E fixture.
Equatorial Guinea remain in Casablanca to face Sudan earlier the same day.
Equatorial Guinea captain Emilio Nsue, remained an unused substitute, and coach Juan Micha will be hoping for a swift response ahead of a potentially decisive clash with Sudan.
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Story by Xavier Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
