Burkina Faso confirmed their place within the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a managed 2-0 victory over Sudan on the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca. The Stallions wanted a optimistic end result to safe second place in Group E behind Algeria, they usually delivered with authority in a match that had been billed as decisive by SoftFootball forward of kick-off.
Having already misplaced narrowly to Algeria earlier within the group, Burkina Faso knew ending second would spare them the uncertainty of third-place qualification. That context adopted their earlier Group E storyline, the place Algeria edged previous them to seal the highest spot, leaving Brama Traoré’s aspect needing to handle enterprise towards Sudan.
Burkina Faso began with intent and broke the impasse within the sixteenth minute via Lassina Traoré. A excessive press compelled a turnover in Sudan’s half, and Stéphane Aziz Ki’s shot-cum-cross discovered Traoré unmarked on the again put up. The striker made no mistake, nodding dwelling his thirteenth worldwide aim to reward the Stallions’ early dominance.
Sudan have been handed a route again into the competition halfway via the primary half when John Mano slipped between defender and goalkeeper, drawing a foul from Hervé Koffi.
Nevertheless, Al Gozoli Nooh dragged the ensuing penalty huge, a miss that proved pricey. Sudan briefly gained perception after that second, with Yasir Mozamil going shut from contained in the field, however they may not discover an equaliser earlier than the break.
The second half was extra balanced, with Sudan pushing ahead seeking a response. Aamir Abdallah fired narrowly huge, whereas Nooh once more threatened from a good angle, solely to be denied by Koffi. Burkina Faso remained affected person and disciplined, absorbing stress and ready for his or her probability to strike.
CAF shared a video on their official X account capturing Burkina Faso striker Lassina Traoré’s celebration after heading within the opening aim towards Sudan, securing their knockout stage berth.
Watch the video under:
That second arrived within the eighty fifth minute. A swift counter-attack led by Dango Ouattara opened up area, and his composed via ball allowed Arsène Kouassi to use the end from inside the realm, successfully ending the competition.
The win confirmed Burkina Faso’s fourth straight AFCON last-16 look, ending second in Group E behind Algeria. Sudan, regardless of the defeat, remained hopeful of progressing as a third-placed aspect, with their closing destiny depending on outcomes elsewhere.
