In the pursuit of qualification for the 2014 World Cup, Burkina Faso emerged victorious in the first leg play-offs against Algeria, securing a 3-2 win in Ouagadougou.
Despite being behind twice, Algeria managed to equalize on both occasions. However, Burkina Faso sealed the victory late in the match with a contentious penalty converted by Aristide Bance in the 86th minute. Bance, who had missed a penalty earlier in the game, showed composure on his second attempt, providing his team with a slight advantage in the qualification race before the return leg in Blida.
Even with the loss, Algeria kept its chances alive by scoring two crucial away goals. Paul Put, the coach of Burkina Faso’s Stallions, acknowledged the challenge that lies ahead in the return match, emphasizing that the qualification battle will be decided on Algerian soil.
“We had a valuable success against a solid Algerian team. The missed penalty in the first half played a bad trick on us. Algeria’s equalizing goal scored in the second half disturbed us. Despite everything, we managed to win this meeting. Everything will be decided in Blida in the return match. We have 4 weeks left before the battle of Blida,” stated Paul Put.
