Burkina Faso’s U17 team returned to winning ways at the WAFU-B U17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 1-0 victory over Togo in Ouagadougou on Tuesday.
Captain Comi Abdoul Ouattara scored the decisive goal in the 66th minute at the Stade du 4-Août, securing three important points for the Young Stallions after their opening-match draw against Benin.
Ouattara’s contribution earned him the man-of-the-match award as Burkina Faso recovered from a goalless start to their campaign and strengthened their position ahead of a crucial meeting with Ghana.
The result came in the second match of Matchday 2 in Group A of the WAFU-B U17 AFCON qualifiers, with the hosts managing to break down a Togo side that had kept them at bay during the first half.
Burkina Faso, coached by Mamadou Zongo, also known as Bebeto, had been held to a 0-0 draw by Benin in their opening fixture. The victory over Togo therefore offered the team an opportunity to regain momentum in the competition.
The contest remained goalless at half-time, with neither side managing to find the breakthrough in the opening 45 minutes.
Burkina Faso eventually made their pressure count in the 66th minute when captain Ouattara found the net to put the Young Stallions ahead.
His goal proved decisive, as the Burkinabe side held on to secure a narrow victory and claim all three points.
The captain’s performance was recognised with the man-of-the-match award, highlighting his importance in a tightly contested encounter.
The 1-0 scoreline reflected a hard-fought contest in which Burkina Faso had to wait until the second half to separate themselves from their opponents.
For Zongo’s team, the result was an important response after dropping points in their first match. Having failed to score against Benin, the Young Stallions were able to find the net against Togo and convert that goal into a victory.
The win also gives Burkina Faso greater confidence as they prepare for the next stage of their Group A campaign.
Burkina Faso’s attention will now turn to their next fixture against Ghana, who have already collected six points in the competition.
The meeting is expected to be an important test for the Young Stallions as they seek to build on their victory over Togo and strengthen their position in the qualifying campaign.
