Head coach of Burkina Faso Brama Traore believes the penalty kick awarded to Algeria changed the dynamics of the match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The North African country triumphed over the Stallions in their second Group E clash on Saturday, thanks to Riyad Mahrez strike.
Mahrez emerged as the hero as Algeria triumphed over the Stallions to secure qualification to the knockout stage of the continental showpiece on Saturday.
The experienced winger converted perfectly from the spot, as Algeria cruised to a narrow victory over Burkina Faso in a high-stake clash. It was his third goal for the Desert Foxes at the tournament, having netted a brace against Sudan in their opener.
And according to Brama Traore, the penalty decision changed the dynamics of the match, while commending his players for a standout display.
“We wanted to win this match. Facing Algeria is always difficult, but we did our best. Our tactical plan was based on all the analyses we conducted. We had to put pressure on them because we knew how strong they were, but I think our strategy wasn’t bad at all.”
“They got a penalty kick that completely changed the course of the match, but despite that, we put on a good performance against them”
The North African country currently sit top of Group E, accumulating six points, while Burkina Faso and Sudan are tied on three points each after two matches.
