AFCON 2025: Burkina Faso snatch dramatic win over 10-man Equatorial Guinea in final 3 minutes
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 24.12.25. | 18:08
The hard-fought win sent Burkina Faso to the summit of Group E with three points and a healthy goal advantage
Burkina Faso left it late to snatch a dramatic 2–1 victory over Equatorial Guinea in a fiercely contested Group E opener at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Late goals from Georgi Minoungou and Abdoul Fessal Tapsoba overturned Marvin Anieboh’s shock opener to hand Les Étalons a perfect start to their campaign.
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The hard-fought win sent Burkina Faso to the summit of Group E with three points and a healthy goal advantage, while Equatorial Guinea, despite a valiant display with ten men, slumped to the foot of the standings.
With the clash marking Group E’s opening fixture and only the second meeting between the two nations since their first encounter a decade ago in 2015, both sides entered the contest eager to lay down an early marker in their quest for progression to the knockout stages.
True to its billing, the match burst into life from the opening whistle, with both teams trading attacks in an entertaining end-to-end opening spell.
Equatorial Guinea threatened first in the 11th minute when Pedro Obiang Avomo Nchama whipped a dangerous delivery into the penalty area, only for Blati Touré to produce a timely defensive block.
Burkina Faso responded moments later through Bertrand Isidore Traoré.
The Sunderland forward met Edmond Fayçal Tapsoba’s precise pass with a first-time volley, but the effort struck Esteban Orozco Fernández and was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Jesús Owono.
Guinea came close again in the 18th minute following a midfield break by Fernández, but Obiang blazed his effort wide from the edge of the area.
As the half progressed, Burkina Faso began to dictate the tempo and nearly found the opener when Dango Ouattara pounced on a loose ball inside the box, only to be denied by a crucial block from Guinea captain Carlos Akapo.
Further chances followed at both ends.
Iván Salvador tested Hervé Koffi with a curling effort, while Traoré and Landry Nomel Kabore both squandered gilt-edged opportunities late in the half, ensuring the sides went into the break goalless despite an open and absorbing first 45 minutes.
The second half took a decisive turn four minutes after the restart when Equatorial Guinea were reduced to ten men.
Basilio Ndong was shown a red card following a VAR review for a clumsy challenge on Traoré, leaving Guinea facing an uphill task.
Buoyed by the numerical advantage, Burkina Faso poured forward in waves.
Dango was twice denied by Owono, while Kabore missed a golden chance when he headed wide from Issa Kaboré’s pinpoint cross with the goal gaping.
The pressure continued to mount, and Burkina Faso thought they had finally broken the deadlock in the 72nd minute when Lassina Traoré tapped in from close range, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside.
Against the run of play, Equatorial Guinea stunned their opponents six minutes from time.
Marvin Anieboh rose highest to meet Santiago Eneme Coco’s corner, thumping a header past Koffi to give the ten-man side a shock lead.
The goal sparked urgency rather than panic from Burkina Faso.
Four minutes later, Seattle Sounders winger Georgi Minoungou restored parity with a fierce strike that beat Owono, reigniting belief among the West Africans.
And just when the contest appeared destined for a draw, Burkina Faso delivered the decisive blow deep into stoppage time.
Abdoul Fessal Tapsoba rose above his markers to power home a commanding header, sealing a dramatic comeback and sending Les Étalons into raptures at the final whistle.
