Burkina Faso are through to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup. The team led by defender Edmond Tapsoba surprisingly beat Tunisia 1-0 in the quarter-finals – even surviving the last few minutes when they were outnumbered.
Burkina Faso went into this quarter-final clash with Tunisia, who had knocked out joint-favourites Nigeria 1-0 in the last eight, as slight underdogs. In their starting eleven, coach Kebaier once again fielded Skhiri from Cologne, while Leverkusen centre-back Tapsoba started for the Burkina Faso side. Surprisingly, Aston Villa’s top star Bertrand Traoré had to start on the substitutes’ bench.
The West Africans controlled the first minutes of the game until their keeper Koffi injured his left thigh in a collision with Msakni, but despite several treatments he finished the game. Both teams took their time until good chances were created. Burkina Faso opened the scoring after 25 minutes through Cyrille, who first dribbled past an opponent in the sixteen and then shot straight at keeper Ben Said from an angled position.
Three minutes later Khazri caused a stir with a free-kick from around 30 metres. He hit the ball almost perfectly, but Koffi blocked the shot. In the 36th minute, Tapsoba caused the next upset, but in front of his own goal. He took a kick instead of his stricken goalkeeper and passed it to the latter, who played it back to him. But then the Levekusen man underestimated the pace of the onrushing Jaziri, who straddled Tapsoba’s attempted clearance – and almost put it into the Burkina Faso goal.
Tunisia too far up the pitch: leading goal still just before the interval
As Tunisia stood tall to score themselves at the end of the first half, they conceded what was ultimately the game-deciding goal. Winger Dango Ouattara received the ball from inside his own half, got round two Tunisian defenders and shot into the left-hand side of the goal from around ten metres. Keeper Ben Said did not cut a good figure either.
Burkina Faso also started the second half better. Bayala was free on the right at the five-yard line and hit the ball hard, but too unplaced (51). Then Tunisia, the favourites, also created a good chance when Khazri was free at the second post after a cross from substitute Sliti but could not direct the ball on target with his shin (57th).
Burkin last ten minutes outnumbered – Tunisia
The pressure of the “Eagles of Carthage” increased as a result. In the 76th minute, they could have been awarded a penalty after video evidence. Soumaila Ouattara had rudely hit Khazri during a clearing attempt after he had knocked the ball away earlier. The Botswana referee decided against a penalty, according to the pictures. Shortly afterwards, however, the Burkinabe were weakened. Dango Ouattara saw red for smashing his left elbow against Maaloul’s head in a duel for a header (83rd).
As a result, the West Africans had to play the last few minutes with fewer players. Tunisia pressed once more, but failed to create a top chance. Burkina Faso are thus celebrating one of the greatest successes in their association’s history, after losing the semi-finals in 2017 (against Egypt on penalties) and the final in 2013 (0-1 against Nigeria).
Burkina Faso will then face the winner of the clash between Senegal and Equatorial Guinea next Thursday, when they meet at 8pm on Sunday.
