In sunny Stade Bouake, everyone's excited for the Burkina Faso vs. Mauritania match in Group D on a Tuesday afternoon.
The Stallions, who did well in the past Africa Cup of Nations, want to repeat their success from 2013. On the other side, the Lions of Chinguetti hope to win their first-ever tournament game.
Burkina Faso is seen as a dark horse in AFCON, reaching semifinals or finals in three of the last five editions. Even though they had a tough time qualifying, they still topped their group.
Coach Hubert Velud is guiding Burkina Faso, and they're expected to compete for the top two spots in Group D with Algeria, Angola, and Mauritania. On the field, they've won three of their last five matches, including a 2-1 win in their final warm-up game. However, there are some problems within the football association.
Burkina Faso has a good record against Mauritania in friendly matches, but this is their first AFCON encounter. A good start in the opening match is crucial, especially if Algeria performs well in the group.
Mauritania has been to three AFCONs since 2019 but hasn't won a game yet. Despite facing challenges, including sanctions in 2010, they've improved on and off the field.
Coach Amir Abdou, who had a successful debut with Comoros in AFCON, wants Mauritania to go beyond the group stage. Although they had a goalless draw in their last warm-up game, Abdou is worried about the team's struggles to score in the last three matches.
The game will live on
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