AFCON2023: Baghdad Bounedjah rescues vital point for Algeria against Burkina Faso

Al-Sadd striker, Baghdad Bounedjah rescued vital points for Algeria, the Desert Warriors, after scoring deep in injury time to hold high-flying Burkina Faso to a 2-2 stalemate at the Stade de la Paix in their second group stage game of the Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations staged on Saturday evening.

The 2019 champions came into the tie as favorites on paper and unsurprisingly pinned their opponents who used their moments to go two goals up and control the proceedings.

The Desert Warriors who remain without a win in their last five games in the prestigious continental showpiece kicked the 2023 campaign on a low note playing out to a one-all draw against Angola while The Stallions (Burkina Faso) needed to beat Algeria to progress to the round of sixteen after a 1-0 opening day win over Mauritania

The match in Bouke was all set for the Stallions to win until Lille midfielder Adam Ounas wiped in a cross from the corner kick that the former Etoile Sportive Du Sahel forward rose the highest to head past Antony Mandrea in Burkinabe post to draw the two times champions level.

After a slow start to the first half that provided fewer chances for both sides, Akhmat Grozny striker Mohammed Konate gave Burkina Faso the lead in the 45+2 sending a bullet a header from close range that was followed by a VAR review to award the goal.

Konate was at the right place at the right time when French Ligue 2 side Amiens SC forward Abdoul Tapsoba picked him with a long ball from the left flank of the field before heading home to give the 2013 runners-up a lead heading to the breather.

After the break Algeria gaffer, Djamel Belmadi threw in more fire in the attack line resting the experienced Sofiane Feghouli for Rayole Union Saint Gilloise attacker Mohammed El Amine Amoura and the Desert Warriors seemed a constant threat to the Burkina Faso defense.

The 1990 AFCON champions were eventually rewarded for their relentless attacks after the stallions' defense failed to deal with a lobbed freekick giving the hero of the day Bounedjah a perfect chance to restore parity following a melee at the goalmouth, scoring in two successive matches at the tournament.

Burkinabe gaffer Hubert Velud countered Algeria’s threat by withdrawing his goal scorer Konate for Aston Villa striker Bertrand Traore who was the hero in the opening match of Group D and the forward repaid the faith placed on him by converting from the spot kick to give his side the lead.

The penalty kick was awarded after Issa Kabore went down in the box following a challenge from Ait Nouri and after being called to review the tackle on the pitch side monitor, the referee decided to give the spot kick that Traore dispatched sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

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And when the Stallions thought they had progressed from the group stage for the fifth time in their history Baghdad rose the highest to complete his brace and take his goal tally in the tournament to three at the same time keeping alive the Desert Warriors hopes of qualifying to the next round.

The last match of the group sees Algeria facing Mauritania on Tuesday, while group leaders, Burkina Faso take on Angola.

AFCON 2023- GROUP STAGE

Round 2

Thursday

Equatorial Guinea - Guinea Bissau 4-2 (1-1)

/Nsue 21, 51, 61, Miranda 46 - Orosco 37, Ze Turbo 90+3/

Ivory Coast - Nigeria 0-1 (0-0)

/Troost-Ekong 54 pen/

Egypt - Ghana 2-2 (0-1)

/Marmoush 69, M. Mohamed 74 - Kudus 45+3, 71/

Friday

Cape Verde - Mozambique 3-0 (1-0)

/Bebe 32, Ryan Mendes 51, Kevin Pina 69/

Senegal - Cameroon 3-1 (1-0)

/I. Sarr 16, H. Diallo 71, Mane 90+5 - Castelletto 83/

Guinea - Gambia 1-0 (0-0)

/A. Camara 69/

Algeria - Burkina Faso 2-2 (0-1)

/B. Bounedjah 51,90+5- M. Konate 45+3, B. Traore 71/

20:00: (3.15) Mauritania (3.05) Angola (2.45)

23:00: (2.75) Tunisia (2.95) Mali (2.85)

Sunday

17:00: (1.58) Morocco (3.70) DR Congo (6.75)

20:00: (2.30) Zambia (3.15) Tanzania (3.35)

23:00: (2.00) S.Africa (3.30) Namibia (4.00)

***odds are subject to change***