Group B favorites Burkina Faso went down in Johannesburg to a shock second half opener by Eswatini but Les Étalons fought back for three goals in the final thirty minutes to win 3-1 in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Tuesday. Young star Dango Ouattara scored twice and Stephane Aziz Ki finished off the comeback after Eswatini’s Sabelo Ndzinisa put the hosts in the lead in the 64th minute. Burkina Faso remain at the top of the group with six points from two games while Eswatini have one point.
Without starting goalkeeper Hervé Koffi as well as manager Hubert Velud for the match, the circumstances favored Eswatini’s chances of following up their surprise 2-2 draw in Togo with another positive result. The underdogs did well to contain the Burkinabé attack and the Stallions struggled to find openings. Each goalkeeper only had to deal with one shot on target with Eswatini’s Mathabela Sandanezwe and Burkinabé stand-in keeper Killian Nikiema comfortably dealing with long range efforts.
The second half was a different story as the action picked up and Eswatini stunned the favorites when they took the lead in the 64th minute. A lofted ball from Kwakhe Thwala at the midfield line found the run of Ndzinisa and Mbombela United striker sent his low volley past Nikiema to put Burkina Faso under pressure. However, the Stallions responded five minutes later with Gustavo Sangaré’s lofted pass finding Ouattara, who took the ball down with a brilliant first touch before firing past Sandenezwe for an excellent goal.
Burkina Faso completed their comeback to take the lead in the 75th minute when a through ball from Ibrahim Touré sent Ouattara through and the Lorient forward tucked his finish inside the far post past Sandenezwe. Following a second yellow card for Eswatini’s Lindo Mkhonta, the visitors put the result beyond doubt when Cédric Badolo slipped a pass inside to fellow substitute Aziz Ki and the ASEC Mimosas sent a confident finish high past a helpless Sandenezwe.
Highlights from Johannesburg are below.
