By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Forward Dango Ouattara’s goal scored in the 45+3 minutes was all that Burkina Faso’s Stallions needed to beat hard-fighting Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles 1-0 in Saturday’s quarter final match of the on-going Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) played at Stade Roumde Adjia, Garoua in Cameroon.
This is even as the goalscorer was dismissed towards the end of the tension-soaked match by Referee Joshua Bondo of Botswana for elbowing Tunisia’s Ali Maaloul which was adjudged by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) as a dangerous play which turned Ouattara’s yellow card into red.
Burkina Faso took the lead with the final kick of the first half after the Burkinabes turned defence into attack when Mamaduo Toure played in Ouattara from the right side of the pitch.
The player swiftly drove into the box, cuts back inside after two Tunisian defenders closed in on him and then with his left foot fired the ball past Ben Said at close range.
The Burkinabes probably deserved their win, having caused Tunisia a number of problems throughout the match.
Burkina Faso needed penalties to make it this far, edging past Gabon in the penalty shootout, after four points was enough to see them through as runners-up in the group behind Cameroon.
Tunisia haven’t been bad themselves, but not quite clicked into gear in attack all through the game and every efforts to get the equaliser did not materialise.
The Tunisians who were full of confiden after their shock last-16 win over Nigeria, were outplayed by Burkina Faso on the day just as all their tricks which they employed in the 1-0 win over Nigeria last week did not work against Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso will face Senegal or Equatorial Guinea in the last four.
Elsewhere, host Indomitable Lions of Cameroon defeated surprise team of the tournament The Gambia 2-0 courtesy Karl Toko Ekambi in the first match of the day.
