Rail Club de Kadiogo (RCK) kicked off their 2024-2025 campaign in the Burkinabe national first division with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Salitas FC. The Falcons, led by coach Amadou Sampo, put in a dominant display early on to secure the win and temporarily claim the top spot in the league standings.
The match, held on the opening day of the season, began cautiously as both teams looked to find their rhythm.
However, RCK soon took control, making their intentions clear by striking first.
In the 16th minute, Fayçal Papou Konaté gave RCK the lead with a well-placed header at the near post, marking the first goal of the new season and setting the tone for what was to come.
Just five minutes later, RCK doubled their advantage, with another player by the name of Fayçal, this time Fayçal Béchir Konaté, finding the back of the net.
After a solo effort, Béchir Konaté slotted the ball past the Salitas FC goalkeeper, putting the Falcons firmly in command at 2-0 in the 21st minute.
As the first half neared its conclusion, RCK continued their relentless attack.
Papou Konaté, having already opened the scoring, added a second goal to his tally just before halftime, extending RCK’s lead to 3-0 by the 49th minute.
His second strike came as part of an inspired performance, further boosting the team’s confidence.
Despite the seemingly insurmountable deficit, Salitas FC mounted a comeback attempt in the second half.
Adama Belem pulled one back for the home side in the 52nd minute, briefly breathing life into their chances.
Belem continued to fight for Salitas, adding a second goal late in the match in the 86th minute, but it was too little, too late to overturn the deficit.
RCK held firm in the final moments to secure their first victory of the season, emerging 3-2 winners.
The Falcons’ solid start has placed them in a promising position at the top of the table, albeit temporarily, as other teams are yet to play their opening fixtures.
The result signals a strong beginning for RCK, with standout performances from both Fayçal Papou Konaté and Fayçal Béchir Konaté.
The early-season form of these two players, particularly Papou Konaté’s brace, will undoubtedly boost RCK’s confidence as they look to build on this win in the coming weeks.
For Salitas FC, despite their late rally, the loss serves as a wake-up call.
They will need to regroup and sharpen their approach if they hope to recover from this setback and challenge for higher positions as the season progresses.
As the Burkinabe championship unfolds, RCK’s impressive start will be closely watched, with fans eager to see whether the Falcons can maintain their early momentum in the quest for domestic success.
