Casablanca: The Cadet Stallions of Burkina Faso emerged victorious against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon with a 2-1 win at the Laarbi Zahouli stadium in Casablanca, Morocco. This match marked the beginning of Group B action in the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), with Burkina Faso making a compelling start to the competition.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Burkinabe team took control early in the match, making their intentions clear from the outset. Their pressure paid off in the 19th minute when Ashsaraf Tapsoba, the star striker, opened the scoring. Despite Cameroon’s attempts to equalize, their offensive strategies fell short against Burkina Faso’s solid defense.
The turning point came in the 41st minute when Tapsoba capitalized on a mistake by Cameroon’s Junior Lopez. Tapsoba executed an impressive lob from nearly 60 meters, securing a second goal for Burkina Faso. As the teams headed into halftime, the score stood at 2-0 in favor of Burkina Faso.
Cameroon, led by coach Saidou Alioum,
showed more aggression in the second half. Their efforts bore fruit in the 75th minute when David Nyangono managed to reduce the deficit with a well-placed shot. However, despite their perseverance, Cameroon couldn’t find the equalizer before the final whistle.
Burkina Faso’s coach Oscar Barro expressed his team’s ambition, stating, “Today, we can no longer hide. The objective is clear in this competition, it’s to win the trophy.” He attributed their victory to the players’ adherence to instructions and their unity on the field.
In contrast, Cameroon’s coach, Saidou Alioum, acknowledged the strength of the Burkinabe defense and their effective 4-4-2 formation. Reflecting on the loss, he noted, “I’m sad, the players too. We played against a team that was defensively solid.” Despite the setback, Alioum remains optimistic, with two more matches to play in this first round.
In other Group B action, South Africa defeated Egypt 4-3, taking the lead in the group standings. Burkina Faso follows in second place, wi
th Cameroon and Egypt yet to secure points. The next round of matches will see Burkina Faso facing Egypt, and South Africa clashing with Cameroon.
The match, attended by around 1,500 spectators, was officiated by referees El Fariq Hamza, Abertoune Abdessamad, and Jermoumi Fatiha from Morocco. Despite some warnings issued to players from both teams, no exclusions occurred during the game.
With the tournament now underway, all eyes will be on the upcoming matches as teams vie for a spot in the next rounds of the U17 CAN.