Category: Sport News

Bertrand Traoré scores last-gasp winner for Burkina Faso
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bertrand Traoré scores last-gasp winner for Burkina Faso

On Tuesday, Burkina Faso defeated Mauritania 1-0 with a last-gasp Bertrand Traore winner in the 96th minute in their opening Cup of Nations Group D tie at the Stade de Bouaké.

Both sides meet for the first time at the stage as Traoré, who participated at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup and 2011 African U-17 Championship, secured a pivotal three points for Les Étalons.

After a goalless affair in the 90th minute, Burkina Faso got their breakthrough when Nouh Mohamed El Abd fouled Issa Kabore in the penalty area.

Traore misplaced Mauritania keeper Babacar Niasse from the spot. As a result, Burkina Faso go top of Group D ahead of taking on Algeria on Saturday. 

Mauritania’s third appearance started with a narrow defeat, leaving them with an uphill task to qualify from this group as they set to face Angola and Algeria, respectively, in their remaining group two matches.

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Cristovao Paciencia helps Angola draw with Desert Foxes Algeria
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cristovao Paciencia helps Angola draw with Algeria 

Algeria were held to a 1-1 draw against Angola in their opening Group D game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, with a second-half Cristovao Paciencia Mabululu penalty denying the North Africans a vital first win.

The 2019 champions got off the mark through Baghdad Bounedjah’s opening goal after 18 minutes in Bouake, Ivory Coast’s second city, but they failed to double their lead at the break.

Algeria were pegged back midway through the second half as substitute Mabululu converted from the spot after he was fouled in the box by Nabil Bentaleb.

Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi expressed his disappointment in his post-match interview. “This is not the result we expected. We were expecting to have three points. We tried our best and didn’t want to lose the game, so we did what we could to get a necessary point.”

Algeria’s next outing is against Burkina Faso on Saturday, as Angola faces Mauritania in the evening kickoff (20h00).

In Group C’s second game, Guinea and Cameroon shared opening spoils 1-1 at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023. 

Earlier, holders Senegal thrashed the Gambia 3-0 – they will face Cameroon on Friday, January 19, at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium –Guinea‘s Syli National take on Gambia on the same day in a late kickoff. 

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Winning start for holders Senegal as Lamine Camara nets brace
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Winning start for holders Senegal as Lamine Camara nets brace

Holders Senegal got off to a winning start as youngster Lamine Camara stole the headlines with a brace in their 3-0 demolition of the Gambia.

Pape Gueye scored Senegal’s opener in the 4th minute at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro in the Group C encounter – 20-year-old Lamine Camara scored twice to ensure a bright opening match for Lions of Teranga.

The Gambia suffered more setbacks when Cardiff City midfielder Ebou Adams was sent off before half-time.

Lamine Camara doubled Senegal’s lead with a low finish in the 52nd minute with a curling effort before wrapping up his brace in the 86th minute.

The 2023 U20 AFCON Best Player was named Man of the Match on his Cup of Nations debut for Senegal.

Head coach Aliou Cisse’s side takes home an early advantage with maximum points of the group as Cameroon takes on Guinea later on.

Senegal will take on Cameroon in Yamoussoukro Charles Konan Banny Stadium in their second group-stage match on Friday (17:00 GMT).

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Guinea face a tricky Cameroon AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea face a tricky Cameroon AFCON opener

Syli National of Guinea to face a tricky Group C opener in the Africa Cup of Nations against five-time winners Cameroon on Monday.

Kaba Diawara will be at the dugout when his side opens their AFCON campaign at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro. 

Monday’s encounter is the third between the two sides at the Cup of Nations – Both nations have met in previous group stages that ended in draws: 2-2 in 1998 and 1-1 in 2015.

Cameroon, under the supervision of Rigobert Song, will be hoping to start on a positive footing as they were eliminated by Egypt in the semi-finals as hosts nation in the 2021 AFCON but won against Burkina Faso 5-3 on aggregate to lift the third spot. 

Syli National head coach Kaba Diawara has been working on instilling a winning mentality in his side as they prepare to face the Indomitable Lions.

“We have a strong group, with great teams so we must start the competition well to secure a chance of qualifying for the next neround,” he told CAFOnline.

“My personal ambition is to win. When we start a job we have to do it well. We have a young team and we are in a group that has previous champions. We hope to be at the level and give everything on the pitch. I want to urge our fans to encourage us and believe in us.”

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Josh Koroma nets in Huddersfield's draw against Plymouth
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Josh Koroma nets in Huddersfield’s draw against Plymouth

Huddersfield Town played to a 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle in their English Championship encounter on Saturday at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Ian Foster’s first league game in charge of Plymouth ended in a draw with fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town. 

Morgan Whittaker’s seventh goal of the season for the Pilgrims was cancelled out by Sierra Leone’s native Josh Koroma before the break.

Darren Moore’s Terriers have now failed to win at home for the 11th time this season.

Koroma, who was making his 24th appearance, recorded his second of the campaign – assisted by Sorba Thomas in the 38th minute after M. Whittaker gave the visitors the opener in the 16th minute.

Plymouth Argyle‘s Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu was an unused substitute on Saturday.

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