Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – (African Boulevard News) – The TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) came to a close on Thursday with Burkina Faso clinching the bronze medal after defeating Mali 2-1 in the play-off held in Annaba.
In a highly anticipated match, both teams came out strong and played with great intensity. Burkina Faso pressed hard for the opening goal and finally found it in the 32nd minute through a superb strike from Ousmane Sawadogo. Mali responded impressively, equalizing in the 43rd minute with a goal from Abdoul Karim Karamoko.
The second half saw both teams coming out with renewed vigor, but it was Burkina Faso who eventually found the back of the net, thanks to a stunning goal from second-half substitute, Issa Ouedraogo. The talented striker picked up the ball at the edge of the box and with a swerving shot, beat the Mali goalkeeper to secure the bronze medal for Burkina Faso.
The Burkinabe coach, Souleymane Zoundi, expressed his delight at his team’s performance and hailed his players’ resilience throughout the tournament. “I am very proud of my players. They showed great character and fought hard in every game. Winning the bronze medal is a great achievement for us,” said Zoundi.
Mali’s coach, Mohamed Magassouba, meanwhile, was disappointed with the result, but acknowledged his team’s efforts. “We gave it our all, but unfortunately we fell short today. Congratulations to Burkina Faso for their victory,” said Magassouba.
The win means Burkina Faso finished third in the tournament, behind finalists Senegal Morocco, set to clash on May 19 in Algiers. It was a well-deserved result for a team that showed great determination and skill throughout the campaign.
In conclusion, Burkina Faso have once again proven their worth in African football, and the U17 team has successfully put the country on the international football map. With talented players like Sawadogo and Ouedraogo, the future looks bright for Burkinabe football, and we can expect more success from them in the coming years.
