Bertrand Traore scored a 96th-minute penalty to see Burkina Faso narrowly beat Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Group D.
Substitute Traore sent Mauritania keeper Babacar Niasse the wrong way from the spot after Nouh Mohamed El Abd fouled Issa Kabore in the penalty area.
Mauritania had been minutes away from just a third ever point at Afcon.
Burkina Faso have reached the semi-finals at three of the past five Afcons but were far from their best in Bouake.
Villa’s Traore rescues Stallions
Burkina Faso had looked set to follow favourites Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria in failing to win their opening match.
They created several opportunities at a humid Stade de la Paix with Adama Guira whistling a shot narrowly over the bar in the opening minutes.
Mauritania keeper Niasse was also forced into two fine late saves, denying Stephane Aziz Ki’s effort from a tight angle and tipping a powerful Traore shot over the bar.
Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed had initially waved play on when Luton’s Kabore went down in the penalty area but reversed his decision after the video assistant referee (VAR) had advised him to consult the pitchside monitor.
And the deadlock was finally broken through Aston Villa’s Traore, who was clinical from the spot.
The result was harsh on Mauritania, who still await their first Afcon win.
They had started the brighter side with Stallions goalkeeper Herve Koffi brilliantly tipping Aboubakary Koita’s first-half free-kick over the bar.
And in the second half Koffi denied Sidi Amar with a fine diving save as Mauritania were unable to net what would have been just their second goal at Afcon.
Line-ups
Burkina Faso
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16Koffi
- 9Kaboré
- 14Dayo
- 12Tapsoba
- 25Yago
- 24Guira
- 22TouréBooked at 47mins
- 11BangréSubstituted forTapsobaat 45′minutesBooked at 76mins
- 17KiSubstituted forBandéat 86′minutes
- 8BadoloSubstituted forTraoréat 73′minutes
- 13KonatéBooked at 45minsSubstituted forOuattaraat 85′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Konaté
- 2Ouattara
- 3Guiébré
- 4Nagalo
- 5Djiga
- 10Traoré
- 15Tapsoba
- 18Ouédraogo
- 19Bandé
- 20Sangaré
- 23Nikièma
- 26Salou
Mauritania
Formation 4-4-2
- 16Niasse
- 20Keita
- 13El AbdBooked at 90mins
- 5BaSubstituted forDellahiat 67′minutes
- 3AbeidBooked at 90mins
- 10ThiamSubstituted forBaat 58′minutes
- 4Gassama
- 6FofanaSubstituted forNgomat 67′minutes
- 9TanjySubstituted forAmarat 57′minutes
- 19Koïta
- 27KamaraSubstituted forAnneat 28′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Diaw
- 2Diaw
- 7Ba
- 11Anne
- 12Camara
- 14Dellahi
- 15Doukara
- 18El Abd
- 22N’Diaye
- 23Amar
- 24N’Diaye
- 26Ngom
- Referee:
- Jalal Jayed
- Attendance:
- 27,898
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Burkina Faso 1, Mauritania 0.
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Second Half ends, Burkina Faso 1, Mauritania 0.
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Aly Abeid (Mauritania) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Djibril Ouattara (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aly Abeid (Mauritania).
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Foul by Abdoul Tapsoba (Burkina Faso).
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Omaré Gassama (Mauritania) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Goal! Burkina Faso 1, Mauritania 0. Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Nouh El Abd (Mauritania) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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VAR Decision: Penalty Burkina Faso.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Issa Kaboré (Burkina Faso).
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Penalty Burkina Faso. Issa Kaboré draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty conceded by Nouh El Abd (Mauritania) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Issa Kaboré (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Aly Abeid (Mauritania).
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Hassane Bandé (Burkina Faso) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Omaré Gassama (Mauritania).
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Attempt saved. Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Edmond Tapsoba.
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Substitution, Burkina Faso. Hassane Bandé replaces Aziz Ki.
