AFCON hero: Minongou's incredible journey from blindness to glory

They told him he would never play football again. Today, he is one of the heroes of the Africa Cup of Nations.

While the continent's spotlight naturally falls on superstars like Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, Achraf Hakimi or Sadio Mane, the true revelation of the tournament has been a name few knew before: Georgi Minoungou.

Burkina Faso were staring at defeat against Equatorial Guinea before the movie ending came. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Minoungou struck. Seconds later, Edmond Tapsoba completed the turnaround. A 2-1 win, and the whole nation was on its feet.

AFCON 2025: Burkina Faso snatch dramatic win over 10-man Equatorial Guinea in final 3 minutes

But this goal is only half the story - what most don't know is that Minoungou is blind in his left eye.

In 2023, a severe infection forced him into surgery, but the damage was irreversible. Doctors were brutal: his professional career was over. Football, they said, was no longer an option.

However, Minoungou never believed them.

The winger, who began his career at Czech side MFK Vyskov, rebuilt himself step by step. Last year, wearing the colours of the Seattle Sounders, he lifted the Leagues Cup - beating Lionel Messi's Inter Miami along the way. Then came something even bigger: a debut at the Club World Cup.

There, against Paris Saint-Germain, he went head-to-head with Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. No fear. No hesitation. Just football.

"I was ready for the Club World Cup. That's where the spark lit," Minoungou recalled. "It was my test against the best in the world. After that tournament, something clicked. I understood what the highest level really demands."

That stage changed everything, and Burkina Faso coach Brama Traore believed. The national team dressing room welcomed him like a younger brother. Bertrand Traore took him under his wing. Soon, Minoungou was breaking barriers in World Cup qualifiers.

"Everything is crazy in the national team," he said. "Everyone says your name, everyone wants to talk to you. MLS isn't always watched closely, but everyone saw the Club World Cup. That's where they discovered me."

At the Africa Cup of Nations, he needed just 16 minutes to score on his tournament debut and write his name into national folklore.

"Playing at AFCON is a dream," Minoungou said, smiling. "Representing Burkina Faso, wearing the national badge - that's everything. Why not dream of the title?"

Then came the final message. The one that defines him.

"I want to be an example," he said. "I've had ups and downs, but I never gave up. There are no limits if you truly believe. I lost my sight in one eye, people doubted me. And still, I won a trophy, played against Messi, played at the Club World Cup. I kept fighting."

Football told him no. Life proved otherwise.

A true inspiration.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - GROUP STAGE

Friday

15.30: (1.82) Angola (3.45) Zimbabwe (4.70)

18.00: (1.95) Egypt (3.35) S.Africa (4.20)

20.30: (2.20) Zambia (3.15) Comores (3.60)

23.00: (1.55) Morocco (3.80) Mali (7.00)

Saturday

15.30: (1.70) Benin (3.50) Botswana (5.50)

18.00: (1.75) Senegal (3.50) Dr Congo (5.10)

20.30: (2.40) Uganda (3.10) Tanzania (3.20)

23.00: (2.40) Nigeria (3.10) Tunisia (3.20)

Sunday

15.30: (1.92) Gabon (3.35) Mozambique (4.30)

18.00: (2.50) Equatorial Guinea (3.10) Sudan (3.05)

20.30: (2.00) Algeria (3.35) Burkina Faso (4.00)

23.00: (2.20) Ivory Coast (3.15) Cameroon (3.60)

Monday

19.00: (5.50) Angola (3.50) Egypt (1.70)

19.00: (7.75) Zimbabwe (3.90) S.Africa (1.50)

22.00: (11.0) Comores (5.20) Mali (1.30)

22.00: (14.0) Zambia (6.00) Morocco (1.23)

***odds are subject to change***