AFCON 2023: Burkina Survives Mauritania’s 1st Half Scare

The usually attacking-minded Burkina Faso was forced into a reorganization on the spur of the moment due to a superior system adopted by the unknown quantity of Mauritania. The latter drew rings around the Burkinabes, knocking the ball around with confidence, often threatening a goal at the end of their onslaughts.

The unexpected tempo unleashed by the Mauritanians is yet another sign that football on the African continent has come of age, and already many pundits are scratching their heads as to the likely winner of AFCON 2023 hosted by La Cote D’ Ivoire.

As fate would have it, the Burkina team drifted from their gameplan, resorted to wild clearances, and few breaks within the summary of disjointed formation in the face of the unrelenting pump of adrenalin, and display of ball sense of Mauritania.

Half-time scores in this entertaining match stood at 0-0.  A pre-tournament friendly between them ended in a draw.