AFCON 2025: Tapsoba seals dramatic win, Amoura and Maza decisive for Algeria | OneFootball

Edmond Tapsoba scored with the last kick of the game to help Burkina Faso see off ten-man Equatorial Guinea in the opening round of AFCON. The Stallions played almost the entire second-half with a man advantage, but they went a goal behind five minutes before time.

Marvin Anieboh, who is plying his trade in the Spanish third-tier, gave the 2015 hosts a surprise lead. However, Burkina Faso turned it around in injury-time. Bayer Leverkusen’s experienced center-back first played a huge role with an incisive pass in the buildup of the equalizing goal by the Ivory Coast-born Georgi Minoungou.

Tapsoba then scored the winner with the last kick of the game. Freiburg’s 20-year-old midfielder Cyriaque Irié was instrumental in creating the chance for Tapsoba’s close-range header after coming on as a substitute in the 89th minute.

The 2019 AFCON winner Riyad Mahrez led by example as Algeria beat Sudan in the other game of the group. The fleet-footed winger scored a brace as he ended his seven-game goalless run in the competition.

Wolfsburg’s sought-after attacker Mohamed Amoura assisted the second with an outstanding trivela. This game also had another early red card as Sudan played more than 50 minutes with ten.

Algeria are the team with the most Bundesliga representatives in the 35th edition of AFCON. Borussia Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini saw his first-half goal chalked off for offside, while Farès Chaïbi also played from the start.

The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder was replaced by Ibrahim Maza at the hour mark. Leverkusen’s in-form attacking midfielder then scored his first goal for Algeria in the 85th minute with a smart finish. Algeria and Burkina Faso will meet on Sunday in the second round of the group stage.