Bertrand Traore scored a 96th-minute penalty to help Burkina Faso narrowly beat Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Group D on Tuesday.
Substitute Traore sent Mauritania keeper Babacar Niasse the wrong way from the spot after Nouh Mohamed El Abd fouled Issa Kabore in the penalty area.
It was the first ever win for the Burkinabe in their opening match of the Africa showpiece finals and came at the 13th attempt.
Burkina Faso dominated possession, but it was Mauritania who carved out the better chances, though they were denied by the excellent reflexes of goalkeeper Herve Koffi and will feel aggrieved not to have got something from the game having conceded in the 96th minute.
Burkina Faso lead the pool with three points after the first round of matches. Fancied Algeria were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Angola on Monday.
Burkina Faso have reached the semi-finals at three of the past five AFCON but were far from their best on Tuesday.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
