AFCON: Burkina Faso floor Sudan to reach knockout stage for sixth time

Burkina Faso qualified for their sixth appearance in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following their hard-earned 2-0 win against Sudan during the final group fixture at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Wednesday.

Ahead of the 35t edition of the AFCON, the Stallions had progressed from the group stage five times – in 1998, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2023. However, a goal in either half via Lassina Traoré, and Arsène Kouassi helped the West Africans to make it six times at the expense of Sudan.

The two nations were just meeting in their second competitive meeting, and their first clash at the AFCON finals since 2012. Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah had previously faced Burkina Faso at the AFCON while in charge of Ghana.

Appiah lost in the 2013 semifinals encounter that ended 1-1 before the Black Stars were defeated 3-2 on penalties. The Stallions looked the better side from the onset, and had a good chance to take an early lead in the fifth minute but Lassina Traoré powered his effort wide.

Burkina Faso had kicked off their group campaign with a 2-1 win over Equatorial Guinea before losing 1-0 to Algeria, while the Bright Stars had benefited from an own goal against Equatorial Guinea to win 1-0 in their matchday two after losing 3-0 against Algeria in the opener.

Burkina Faso broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when Sudan defender Mazin Mohamedein lost the ball under pressure from Stéphane Aziz Ki. The midfielder, who plays for Botola Pro club Wydad AC spotted Traoré alone in the far end.

Without hesitation, Aziz Ki delivered a pin point left-footed cross which Traore powered home with a powerful header past Mohamed Mohamed Abooja. Two minutes later, Cyriaque Irié almost doubled the lead when he rounded off a Sudanese but his effort went wide.

The missed opportunity almost proved costly for Burkina Faso as from the resultant free-kick, goalkeeper Hervé Koffi fouled the advancing Al-Jezoli Nouh and the referee pointed to the spot.

Al-Jezoli Nouh dusted himself and stepped to take the kick but he failed to hit the target as his feeble shot rolled out at the near post. Sudan continued to press for the equaliser and in the 35th minute, Nouh missed an open chance after his stretched leg failed to turn into the net a cross from Yaser Awad.

At the start of the second period, Sudan hit the front foot with a series of good chances to level matters. The best chance of all came in the 56th minute when the hardworking Nouh let fly a left-footed effort but it went inches with Koffi rooted to the ground.

With eight minutes left on the clock, Burkina Faso doubled their lead when Kouassi raced to meet a pass from substitute Dango Ouattara with a one-time shot which deflected off as a Sudanese defender before hitting the back of the net.

Victory could have seen Sudan win successive AFCON matches for the first time since 1970, when they beat Cameroon in the final group game, Egypt in the semifinal and Ghana in the final. Burkina Faso will clash with the winner of Group F in the Round of 16, to be determined later, on January 6 in Marrakech.