Burkina Faso Claims Late Victory Over Tanzania at WAFCON
In an electrifying match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco, Burkina Faso’s national team, known as the Etalons Dames, secured a pivotal 2-1 victory against Tanzania in their second match of Group B. This win marked a significant milestone for Burkina Faso, as it was their first triumph of the tournament.
Game Highlights
The match saw Burkina Faso demonstrating superior finishing skills compared to their opponents. The winning goal was netted by Balkissa Sawadogo in the dying minutes, taking full advantage of a pivotal moment when Tanzania was reduced to ten players due to a red card early in the second half.
First Half Dynamics
Tanzania initiated the game with a powerful start, creating a notable opportunity right after kick-off. Opah Clement Tukumbuke, Tanzania’s captain, found herself in a one-on-one situation with Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou, but her effort soared over the crossbar in the 43rd minute. Another attempt came from Donisia Minja with a direct free-kick from 20 meters that failed to dip in time, resulting in a comfortable save for Dabilgou (9′).
Burkina Faso responded with their first long-range attempt, which was also kept out by Najat Idrisa (14′). Subsequently, Tanzania had another chance when Minja’s corner was cleared, allowing Ester Maseke to attempt a header, but it went awry (17′). Burkina Faso’s Rasmata Sawadogo fought valiantly, delivering a cross that unfortunately resulted in a miss by Adama Congo from close range (18′).
The match tightened significantly when Hasnath Ubamba provided a well-placed cross for Tukumbuke, but a VAR check revealed an accidental handball by Tukumbuke, negating what could have been the opening goal and resulting in a yellow card for her (’29). Burkina Faso eventually broke the deadlock when Adele Kabre capitalized on a defensive mistake from Violeth Mwamakamba, swiftly scoring by chipping the ball over the rushing Idrisa in the 43rd minute.
Tanzania’s Second Half Challenge
The second half proved tumultuous for the Twiga Stars. An overzealous challenge from Ubamba led to a red card after VAR intervention as she unintentionally caught Dabilgou’s calf (55′). Despite being down to ten players, Tanzania found an equalizer. A foul committed 25 meters from the Burkina Faso goal allowed Minja to take a powerful shot that, after being tipped onto the bar by Dabilgou, was rebounded by Aisha Mnunka into the net (62′).
Yet, the sudden shift sparked Burkina Faso back to life. They quickly regained their footing after a series of erratic clearances from the Tanzanian defense, and it was Balkissa Sawadogo who once again found the target, scoring with precision in the 80th minute after receiving the ball unmarked between the defenders.
Final Minutes Tension
As the match approached its conclusion, Tanzania sought to equalize but could not find a breakthrough. A final opportunity arose when Mnunka’s headed clearance was directed back into play, only to be thwarted by a Burkina Faso defender in the nick of time, ensuring Burkina Faso’s hard-fought victory.
WAFCON 2026 Overview
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is currently being held from July 26th to August 16th across locations in Rabat and Casablanca. The tournament features the continent’s top 16 teams divided into groups of four, with the knockout stages set to commence on August 8th.
Stay tuned for more updates and news on the WAFCON tournament as teams vie for the prestigious title.
