Burkina Faso defeat Leone Stars to secure a playoff spot

With stars like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, Egypt had no problem qualifying for the next World Cup and will finish as first in Group A with two games to go. But Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone had to fight between themselves to decide who will secure a playoff spot. Leone Stars had a great opportunity as they played against the Stallions in Liberia and could have been on level with them ahead of the last round. But they missed too many opportunities and were punished for it: Sierra Leone – Burkina Faso 0-1.

Even thou this game finished as most games in the African qualifying groups do, with a 1-0 score, the match was full of chances from both sides and it‘s a shame there were no more goals. Burkina Faso was certainly a stronger team with stars like Tapsoba, Traore or Ouattara but still the Leone Stars pushed really hard for a victory which eventually never came and this defeat ended their hope of a playoff spot one round before the end of qualifications.

Mbeumo secures Cameroon win but Indomitable Lions are still second

The visitors first threatened when Abdoul Rachid Ayinde burst through the rigth side and took a shot but Sierra Leone keeper Sesay was on spot. Minnesota‘s Momoh Ibrahim Kamara had two good opportunities but both were saved by the visitor‘s keeper Kilian Nikiema. First was in the 15th minute, and the second one was in the 38th minute when Samadiya managed to get the ball which was destined to go out of play and passed it to Kamara, but again Nikiema saved it. Burkina Faso had one opportunity in the meantime, when Brentford‘s Ouatarra took a shot from the right in the 37th minute and the ball deflected off the defender, forcing Sesay to devert the ball into the bar. Burkina Faso punished Leone Stars for their misses and took a lead in the 42nd minute. Mohamed Zougrana was the tallest after a corner kick and headed the ball into the net. It should have been 2-0 in injury time as Bertrand Traore, a former Ajax and Aston Villa man, now playing for Sunderland used the mistake by Leone defender and lobbed him and the keeper, but the ball went just near the post.

Scandalous officiating prevents Cabo Verde from booking their World Cup ticket

Leone Stars didn’t give up and continued to attack in the second half with the same intensity. Still, they couldn’t create a clear opportunity to score, while Burkina Faso continued to use counter attacks to score the second. Traore again had the chance in the 60th minute, but Sesay jumped to save his goal. Wrexham’s Issa Kabore saved his team from a certain goal when he blocked Kargbo’s shot from five meters in the 67th minute. The visitor's keeper had to intervene once again, this time from a goal line in the 90th minute, but the score remained 1-0 and gave Stallions a playoff spot and hope for a World Cup place.

WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 9

Wednesday

Eswatini - Angola 2-2 (0-0)

/Figuareido 48,54 - Buatu 69, Papel 80/

Ethiopia - Guinea B. 1-0 (1-0)

/James 27/

Libya - Cape Verde 3-3 (2-1)

/Lopes 1 og, Al Mariami 42, Al Shalui 58 - Arcanjo 29, Cabral 76, Semedo 82/

Mauritius - Cameroon 0-2 (0-0)

/Ngameleu 57, Mbeumo 90+2/

Central African Republic - Ghana 0-5 (0-1)

/Salisu 20, Partey 52, Djiku 69, Ayew 71, Sulemana 87/

Chad - Mali 0-2 (0-0)

/Doumbia 19, 74/

Comores - Madagascar 1-2 (0-1)

/Said 81 - Couturier 11, Raheriniaina 73/

Djibouti - Egypt 0-3 (0-2)

/Adel 8, Salah 14, 84/

Sierra Leone - Burkina Faso 0-1 (0-1)

/Zougrana 42/

22.00: (2.00) Niger (3.35) Congo (4.00)

22.00: (3.40) Tanzania (3.10) Zambia (2.30)

***odds are subject to change***