Burkina Faso on Saturday stunned the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia by a lone goal to progress to the semi-finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

Dango Ouattara’s goal on the stroke of halftime was enough for Burkina Faso to beat Tunisia at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua, Cameroon. 

Ouattara, who was sent off in the closing stages scored on the stroke of halftime to give Kamou Malo’s side the victory against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.

The Stallions, who were without their talisman and captain Bertrand Traore, started brightly at the Omnisports Roumde stadium in Garoua.

The Burkinabe controlled possession in the opening exchanges with Steeve Yago and Ibrahim Toure pulling the strings in midfield.

Cyrille Bayala had the first opening of the closely contested match when he found space on the left to shoot straight at Bechir Said in the Tunisian goal midway through the first half.

The Carthage Eagles were denied by Koffi on 26 minutes when he dived to his left to save Wahbi Khazri’s fierce free kick.

The two sides continued to cancel each other in the midfield, while they tried to break on the counter.

A defensive mistake in the Burkinabe box almost allowed Jaziri to score when he charged down Soumaila Ouattara.

Dango broke the deadlock with a neat finish from a swift counter attack. Ibrahim Toure played him through on goal and he cut inside before firing past Bechir.

The Tunisians returned after the break with more determination as they searched for the equaliser.

Kouakou Koffi pulled another brilliant save from a set piece to keep the lead. Substitute Ali Maaloul, volleyed a sumptuous strike but Koffi was equal to it.

The Stallions were reduced to 10-men late on when goal scorer Dango was sent off for swinging an arm on a Tunisian defender.

The Burkinabe held on to progress to the semis of the tournament and they will meet the winner of the encounter between Senegal and Equatorial Guinea.

(NAN)