Burkina Faso triumphed over Burundi with an emphatic 4-1 victory on Thursday, taking control of Group L in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. Goals from Dango Ouattara, Sacha Bansé, and Issouf Dayo secured the Stallions’ position at the top of the table, putting added pressure on Senegal in the race for qualification.
The Stallions entered the match full of confidence, having secured a draw against Senegal and a win over Malawi in their previous qualifiers.
Burundi, meanwhile, came into the game on the back of a thrilling win against Malawi, followed by a narrow loss to Senegal.
Burundi made an aggressive start and capitalized on Burkina Faso’s early defensive lapses. Just four minutes into the match, Kanakimana Bienvenu found the net, putting the Swallows ahead after a mix-up in the Burkinabe defense.
The early setback served as a wake-up call for Burkina Faso, who struggled to settle into the game initially, losing possession repeatedly in the opening minutes.
However, the Burkinabe response came quickly. In the 32nd minute, Dango Ouattara leveled the score with a towering header from a corner delivered by Bertrand Traoré.
The equalizer energized the Stallions, and within a minute, they took the lead. Sacha Bansé embarked on a solo run through the Burundi defense, firing home to make it 2-1 for Burkina Faso.
Ouattara, who was the standout player of the night, struck again just before halftime. Latching onto a well-placed pass from Issa Kaboré, Ouattara dribbled past his marker and curled a shot beyond the Burundian goalkeeper to give his team a 3-1 lead at the break.
Burkina Faso came out even stronger in the second half, dominating possession and creating chances.
Their pressure paid off in the 49th minute when a corner from Bertrand Traoré led to a goalmouth scramble. Issouf Dayo reacted quickest, slotting the ball into the net to extend the lead to 4-1.
Burundi, overwhelmed by the relentless attacks, had no answer to Burkina Faso’s superior firepower.
The Stallions controlled the game’s tempo and coasted to a comfortable victory.
With this win, Burkina Faso moves to the top of Group L with seven points, ahead of Senegal, who will play Malawi later.
The victory puts the Stallions in prime position to secure qualification for AFCON 2025, with a crucial return leg against Burundi scheduled for the fourth day of qualifiers.
Match Summary:
- Venue: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- Final Score: Burkina Faso 4-1 Burundi
- Goals:
- Kanakimana (Burundi) 4′
- Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) 32′, 43′
- Sacha Bansé (Burkina Faso) 33′
- Issouf Dayo (Burkina Faso) 49′
Burkina Faso will look to maintain their momentum in the upcoming fixtures, as they aim to cement their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
