As Burkina Faso prepares to kick off their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, they find themselves in a position of newfound strength, aiming to build on recent successes. The Stallions, who only managed to progress past the group stage once in their initial seven attempts under their current name, have experienced a significant upturn.
Their journey includes a sensational run to the final in 2013 and respectable third and fourth-place finishes in the 2017 and 2021 tournaments, respectively.
Under the guidance of French manager Hubert Velud, Burkina Faso has proven their mettle, losing just twice against African opponents in their last 13 matches (W7, D4).
The Stallions are set to face Mauritania in their opening fixture, a team they defeated in their previous encounter, extending their unbeaten head-to-head run to four games (W3, D1). This history should instill confidence in Burkina Faso as they embark on their AFCON journey.
On the other side of the pitch, Mauritania enters the contest as the underdog, yet with renewed optimism under the leadership of coach Amir Abdou. The Lions of Chinguetti have failed to progress beyond the group stage in their two previous AFCON appearances. However, a gritty 0-0 friendly draw against Tunisia showcased their potential to surprise in a challenging group that includes Angola and Algeria.
While Burkina Faso boasts an attacking threat, evidenced by their scoring in the first half in each of their last five AFCON group encounters, Mauritania faces a goal drought, having failed to find the net in their last three matches. The last time they scored was against Burkina Faso in October.
Players to watch in this encounter include Burkina Faso’s Mohamed Konaté, who enters the tournament on the back of two goals in the lead-up friendlies, and Mauritania’s Pape Ibnou Ba, the last player to find the net for his team. As the Stallions and the Lions of Chinguetti prepare to clash, football enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the twists and turns in this intriguing AFCON encounter.
