AFCON 2023 Preview: Stallions of Burkina Faso in test of strength against the Almoralvidi of Mauritania

Posted : 16 January 2024

Having had the first match of Group D in the 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) between the Desert Foxes of Algeria and Palancras Negras of Angola ending in a draw, all eyes will now be on the second match of the group between the Stallions of Burkina Faso and Almoralvidi of Mauritania, expected to be played at Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.

Although on paper the Stallions of Burkina Faso stand a better chance of winning against Mauritania, who are just making their second appearance at the continental showpiece, past experience puts the prediction on equal footing.

For both countries, it will be their first encounter at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Burkina Faso has been on cruise control in some past matches, remaining unbeaten in their last four meetings with Mauritania in all competitions (W2 D2). Mauritania’s last victory was in September 2018, an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier (2-0) played on home soil in Nouakchott.

Burkina Faso, in this year's AFCON, is making its 13th appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations. In their previous 12 participations, they have either been eliminated in the group stages (eight times) or at least reached the semi-finals (four times), including the final in 2013 (1-0 loss vs Nigeria).

Burkina Faso has never won its opening match at an AFCON tournament (D5 L7) but has scored in each of its last 14 matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, marking the longest active streak and the second-longest in the history of the tournament after Egypt, which found the net in 27 consecutive matches between 1957 and 1980.

This is Mauritania’s third appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, all taking place since 2019. They have finished bottom of their group in each of their two previous participations.

Sunday's Afcon qualifiers wrap: Mauritania seal maiden qualification ...

Mauritania has never won a match at the Africa Cup of Nations (D2 L4). They have also never been ahead at any point in a game at the AFCON.

Mauritania’s only goal so far at the Africa Cup of Nations was a penalty by Hacen against Mali in their first-ever AFCON match back in 2019. Since then, Mauritania hasn’t found the net in 468 minutes of play at the tournament, nearly eight hours.

Burkina Faso striker Dango Ouattara was directly involved in 63% of his team’s goals during the qualifiers for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, scoring four and assisting one.

Bournemouth sign Burkina Faso international Dango Ouattara | PlanetSport

The duo of Aboubakar Kamara and Hemeya Tanjy scored 56% of Mauritania’s goals in the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON (three and two goals respectively, out of a total of nine team goals and excluding the goal scored in the game later awarded to DR Congo).

AFCON 2023 Preview: Stallions of Burkina Faso in test of strength against the Almoralvidi of Mauritania

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