Late Minoungou And Tapsoba Stun Equatorial Guinea As Burkina Faso Snatch Afcon Opener

Burkina Faso launched their Africa Cup of Nations Group E campaign in dramatic fashion after scoring two stoppage-time goals to overturn Equatorial Guinea and secure a thrilling 2-1 victory in Casablanca.

The match appeared to be drifting toward frustration for the Stallions after a tense and largely balanced first half ended goalless, with both sides cancelling each other out through midfield battles and disciplined defending.

Burkina Faso showed more urgency after the break and thought they had taken the lead in the 71st minute when Lassina Traore found the net, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside, compounding their frustration.

Equatorial Guinea then seized the initiative in the 85th minute when Marvin Anieboh rose highest from a corner to power home a header, silencing the Burkina Faso supporters and putting Nzalang Nacional within touching distance of a famous opening win.

Just as defeat loomed, Burkina Faso found a response in the dying moments. In the fifth minute of added time, substitute Georgi Minoungou reacted quickest inside the box to fire home after a smart assist from Dango Ouattara, igniting belief among the West Africans.

Moments later, the comeback was completed in astonishing fashion. From another late delivery into the area, defender Edmond Tapsoba climbed above the Equatorial Guinea defence to head home in the eighth minute of stoppage time, sealing a remarkable turnaround and sparking wild celebrations on the touchline.

Equatorial Guinea had earlier been reduced to ten men early in the second half after Basilio Ndong saw his yellow card upgraded to red following a VAR review, a moment that shifted the momentum but took time to fully tell.

Despite their numerical advantage, Burkina Faso had struggled to break down a resilient opponent until the frantic closing stages, where composure and persistence finally paid off.

The win gives Burkina Faso a crucial three points in a tightly contested Group E and sends a clear message about their resilience and fighting spirit. For Equatorial Guinea, the defeat will sting deeply after coming so close to victory, leaving them with work to do in their remaining group matches.