There are matches that will be forgotten within days, and there are matches that define tournaments. Burkina Faso's 2-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca belongs firmly in the latter category—a contest that swung wildly in its closing minutes and delivered one of the most astonishing comebacks in Africa Cup of Nations history.
A Cagey First Half Sets the Stage
The Group E opener began as many AFCON games do: high on intensity but low on clear-cut chances. Both sides approached the contest with caution, aware that an early misstep could prove costly in a group also featuring Algeria and Sudan.
Burkina Faso coach Brama Traoré deployed a 4-3-3 formation, with Dango Ouattara and Bertrand Traoré providing width and pace on the flanks. The Stallions enjoyed the majority of possession but struggled to break down Equatorial Guinea's compact defensive block, marshalled by Mallorca's Saúl Coco and Esteban Obiang.
Edmond Tapsoba, the Bayer Leverkusen defender who would later become the hero, provided stability at the back while attempting to spark attacks from deep. Yet the first 45 minutes produced little in terms of genuine scoring opportunities, ending goalless but with an undercurrent of tension that suggested drama was brewing.
Red Card Changes Everything—Or Does It?
The match's first pivotal moment arrived five minutes into the second half. Basilio Ndong committed a dangerous challenge on Sunderland forward Bertrand Traoré, leaving the referee with little choice but to produce a straight red card. Suddenly, Equatorial Guinea were down to ten men with 40 minutes still to play.
Coach Juan Micha was forced into an immediate tactical reshuffle, sacrificing midfielder Luis Asue for defensive reinforcement. The Nzalang Nacional retreated into a deep 4-4-1 block, content to absorb pressure and hit on the counter.
Burkina Faso poured forward. Wave after wave of attacks crashed against Equatorial Guinea's defensive wall. In the 71st minute, Lassina Traoré appeared to have broken the deadlock, only for VAR to rule the goal out for a marginal offside. Frustration mounted among the Stallions' players and supporters alike.
Against All Odds: Equatorial Guinea Strike First
Then came the moment nobody expected. In the 85th minute, just three minutes after coming off the bench, Marvin Anieboh rose highest to meet Carlos Akapo's corner and powered a header past Hervé Koffi. The ten men of Equatorial Guinea had taken the lead against all odds.
The stadium fell silent. Burkina Faso, who had dominated for 35 minutes against numerical disadvantage, suddenly faced the prospect of a devastating opening-day defeat. With five minutes of normal time remaining, the Stallions' AFCON 2025 campaign appeared to be hanging by a thread.
Eight Minutes of Madness
The fourth official signaled eight minutes of added time—a reflection of the numerous stoppages and VAR checks that had punctuated the second half. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
In the 95th minute, substitute Georgi Minoungou found himself in the right place at the right time. A scramble in the box, a deflection, and suddenly the ball was in the net. 1-1. The Stallions were level, and Mohammed V Stadium erupted.
But Burkina Faso were not satisfied with a point. They pushed for the winner with renewed belief, sensing that Equatorial Guinea's resistance was finally crumbling. In the 98th minute—the eighth minute of stoppage time—the breakthrough came.
A corner from the left found its way to Edmond Tapsoba, who powered a header past the helpless Jesus Owono. The defender who had marshalled his backline all evening had become the unlikely match-winner. Pandemonium ensued as players and supporters celebrated one of the most dramatic victories in AFCON history.
Post-Match Reactions
Tapsoba, named TotalEnergies Man of the Match, was understandably emotional in his post-match interview: "I feel great joy after this victory. We did not give up after going behind; we scored two goals and won the match. We believed we could come back in the game, and it is in our nature not to stop or lose belief when we are trailing or facing defeat."
The Burkina Faso defender dedicated his award to his teammates: "This Man of the Match award is the result of collective work by our entire team, and I dedicate it to all the members of the Burkina Faso national team."
Equatorial Guinea coach Juan Micha was magnanimous in defeat but pointed to a crucial lapse in concentration: "Congratulations to Burkina Faso on their victory; they were a strong opponent. There was a lack of concentration on our part, and in less than five minutes we lost the match. The red card affects all the players, and we finished the match with a numerical disadvantage. Our morale dropped in just a few minutes."
Burkina Faso's Brama Traoré reflected on his side's mentality: "This was our first match of the tournament and it was very important for us. The victory was not easy against a strong opponent in Equatorial Guinea. After 60 minutes it was not possible to achieve what we wanted, so we worked hard to equalise and then pushed with all our strength to secure the win."
Tactical Takeaways
Despite the dramatic nature of the result, several tactical observations emerged from this contest:
Burkina Faso's wing play needs refinement: While Ouattara and Bertrand Traoré provided constant width, too many crosses failed to find their targets. Against more organized opposition, the Stallions will need to be more clinical in the final third.
Tapsoba's versatility is crucial: The Leverkusen man showed why he's considered one of Africa's best defenders, combining aerial dominance with composure on the ball. His ability to step into midfield and spray passes gave Burkina Faso an extra dimension.
Equatorial Guinea's resilience: Despite the loss, Juan Micha will take positives from his side's defensive organization for 85 minutes. The red card ultimately proved too costly, but the Nzalang Nacional showed they can compete at this level.
What's Next?
Burkina Faso sit top of Group E with three points and face Algeria in their next fixture on December 28—a match that could prove decisive in determining group standings. Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, must regroup quickly for their clash with Sudan on the same day.
For the Stallions, this victory provides more than just three points. It offers the kind of psychological boost that can carry a team through a tournament. They have proven they can win when the situation seems lost—a quality that separates good teams from potential champions.
As for Equatorial Guinea, the challenge now is to avoid letting this heartbreaking defeat define their campaign. With two matches remaining, qualification is still very much achievable—but the mental scars from Casablanca may take time to heal.
Match Details
Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea
Venue: Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Goals: Minoungou 90+5', Tapsoba 90+8' — Anieboh 85'
Red Card: Ndong (Equatorial Guinea, 50')
Man of the Match: Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso)
Burkina Faso: Koffi; Yago (Irie 89'), Tapsoba, Dayo, Kouassi; Toure, Ouedraogo (Simpore 71'), Sangare (Aziz Ki 71'); B. Traoré (Minoungou 79'), Kabore (L. Traoré 70'), Ouattara
Equatorial Guinea: Owono; Akapo, Coco, Obiang, Ndong; Mascarell, Asue (Ondo 53'), Ganet; Salvador (Eneme 68'), Machin (Buyla 67'), Zuniga (Hanza 82')