Burkina Faso staged a dramatic comeback to win 2-1 against Equatorial Guinea in their Africa Cup of Nations Group E opener on December 24, 2025, in Casablanca. Despite playing with 10 men after a red card, Equatorial Guinea led until stoppage time goals from Georgi Minoungou and Edmond Tapsoba secured the victory for the Stallions.
The match at Complexe Sportif Mohammed V in Casablanca kicked off at 12:30 GMT, marking the start of both teams' campaigns in AFCON 2025. Burkina Faso, ranked 62nd by FIFA and 2013 finalists, entered with high expectations, boasting talents like Sunderland's Bertrand Traore and Brentford's Dango Ouattara. Equatorial Guinea, 97th in the rankings, aimed to build on their 2023 quarter-final run.
Equatorial Guinea took the lead in the 85th minute when Marvin Aniebo headed in a corner from Carlos Akapo, defying the run of play after Burkina Faso had dominated chances. The underdogs had been reduced to 10 players since the 50th minute, when left-back Basilio Ndong was sent off for treading on Traore's ankle. Earlier, a second-half goal by substitute Lassina Traore was disallowed for offside.
Burkina Faso's persistence paid off deep into added time. In the 95th minute, Ouattara collected a pass from Tapsoba inside the box, was fouled, but Minoungou fired home the loose ball for the equalizer. Three minutes later, Tapsoba headed in the winner from a cross as goalkeeper Jesus Owono flapped at it, denying Equatorial Guinea a major upset.
Debutants Arsene Kouassi and Landry Kabore featured for Burkina Faso, while Real Madrid prospect Loren Zuniga started up front for the National Thunder, with record scorer Emilio Nsue on the bench. Both teams next play on Monday: Equatorial Guinea face Sudan at 15:00 GMT, followed by Burkina Faso against Algeria at 17:30 GMT.
This result keeps Burkina Faso in contention in Group E, alongside Algeria and Sudan, in a tournament hosted across Morocco featuring intense early drama.
