Burkina Faso’s initial breakthrough in the match came from Mohamed Konate, whose opening goal ignited hope among their supporters. However, Bounedjah quickly countered with a goal, leveling the score, only for the Stallions to regain the lead through a Bertrand Traore penalty, much to the joy of the enthusiastic crowd of over 33,000 in Bouake, Ivory Coast’s second city.
At that pivotal moment, Burkina Faso seemed poised for victory, but Bounedjah, with his second equalizer in the dying moments, brought his goal tally to three, sharing the top scorer spot with Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea in the tournament.
Burkina Faso, runners-up in the 2013 Cup of Nations and semifinalists in the previous edition, now boast four points from two Group D games, positioning themselves favorably for knockout phase qualification before their clash with Angola.
Algeria, having drawn 1-1 against Angola in their opening fixture, sit with two points, needing a victory against Mauritania to secure their passage to the next stage. Bounedjah’s late goal was crucial, preventing a repeat of their disappointing group stage exit two years ago.
Despite the narrow escape, Riyad Mahrez and his teammates visibly struggled in the harsh mid-afternoon heat, a challenge they will likely avoid with an evening kick-off in their final group match.
Burkina Faso, under the guidance of French coach Hubert Velud, who has prior experience with Algerian clubs, took the lead in stoppage time of the first half. Konate’s header, following a precise ball from the left flank, found the net after a VAR check confirmed his onside position.
Algeria responded six minutes into the second half, as Bounedjah capitalized on a goalmouth scramble to level the score. However, Burkina Faso received a penalty midway through the second half, awarded through VAR, as Rayan Ait-Nouri’s challenge on Issa Kabore was deemed foul play.
Aston Villa forward Traore, subbed in for the occasion, confidently converted the penalty, replicating his decisive goal in Burkina Faso’s first-match victory over Mauritania.
In an effort to salvage the match, Algeria made tactical changes, withdrawing wingers Mahrez and Belaili. The decision paid off when Bounedjah’s 95th-minute header secured the crucial equalizer, preventing what could have been a disappointing outcome reminiscent of their early exit in Cameroon two years ago.
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