Burkina Faso pulled off one of the most dramatic escapes in AFCON history, scoring twice in the dying moments of stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. In a match that seemed destined for a major upset, the “Stallions” proved their resilience, turning a certain defeat into a vital three points in their Group E opener.

The match took a significant turn in the 50th minute when Equatorial Guinea’s Basilio Ndong was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for a dangerous challenge on Bertrand Traoré. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the “National Thunder” defended heroically and looked to have snatched a winner in the 85th minute. Substitute Marvin Anieboh, who had been on the pitch for only three minutes, rose highest to head home a Carlos Akapo corner, leaving Burkina Faso shell-shocked.

However, the drama was far from over. As the clock ticked into eight minutes of added time, Burkina Faso launched a desperate final assault. In the 95th minute, Georgi Minoungou found space in a crowded penalty area to fire home a low, right-footed equalizer. With Equatorial Guinea still reeling, the comeback was completed in the 98th minute when Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba reacted quickest to a rebound, heading the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations on the Burkinabe bench.

The win leaves Burkina Faso level at the top of Group E with Algeria, who defeated Sudan 3-0 in their opening match. Equatorial Guinea, despite their heartbreaking finish, will take confidence from their spirited performance as they prepare for their next outing.