Mali triumph over Burkina Faso to reach AFCON quarter-finals

The Malian national football team has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament for the first time in over a decade, defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in a hard-fought match. A second-half strike from forward Lassine Sinayoko proved to be the decisive goal, his third of the championships so far.

The match started dramatically as an own goal put Mali up 1-0 early on. After hitting the post, a wayward rebound by defender Edmond Tapsoba ended up in the Burkina Faso net. The Burkinabes responded valiantly with multiple scoring chances, including shots on target from Tapsoba, Issoufou Dayo, and Bertrand Traore, but Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra was equal to the task.

The relentless Malian attack proved more clinical, as Sinayoko beat the offside trap just after halftime to slot home and give his side a 2-0 advantage. However, a controversial VAR decision later awarded Burkina Faso a penalty for handball, allowing Traore to convert and pull one back for his team.

Yet, determined Malian defending held strong amidst last-gasp chances, booking their place in the AFCON quarter-finals against hosts and trophy favourites Ivory Coast. Burkina Faso are eliminated at this stage, failing to replicate their semi-final finish in 2022.

The match was not without controversy, as a late Burkina Faso goal was ruled out for a tight offside call. Still, Mali fully deserved the victory on balance of play. They will need to be at their very best to challenge the star-studded Elephants in the next round.