Bukina Faso striker Lassina Traoré made a timely return to form this week, netting two significant goals in a 2-1 victory against group A rivals Guinea-Bissau in Monday's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The Shakhtar Donetsk forward scored within six minutes and later scored the match winner in the second half for the Stallions who earned three essential points away from home in Bissau.
The match lacked excitement and fluid football due to the direct play styles of both teams. However, it was an ideal start for the visitors in the 6th minute when Burkina Faso goalkeeper Hervé Kofi's long pass was taken down by Dango Ouattara at the edge of the penalty area. It was so easy that Ouattara laid a pass into the path of Traoré, who delivered a precise low finish past Djurtus keeper Manuel Baldé.
The hosts emerged and leveled the score in the 36th minute with a well-executed long ball. The Burkinabé defense was disorganized as a pass over the top from Alfa Semedo found the run of Zidane Banjaqui, who finished past Koffi just before the defense could clutch him.
Level 1-1 at halftime, dull gameplay continued to dominate the match, with both teams afraid to make a costly error. The hosts were first to stumble, and it cost them all three points on the day. In the 73rd minute, a Bertrand Traoré free kick from the left wing was floated to the far post, where Adamo Nagalo headed the ball across the goalmouth for Traoré to leap up and apply the final touch with his head.
It was not pretty for the Stallions but there will be no complaints from coach Brama Traoré and his charges, who now take sole control of second place in Group A, two points behind the group leaders, Egypt. Monday's result ends a devastating week with two defeats for Guinea-Bissau who have fallen far behind pace in the chase for second place.
Group A Table
GP | Points | |
Egypt | 5 | 13 |
Burkina Faso | 6 | 11 |
Sierra Leone | 5 | 8 |
Guinea-Bissau | 6 | 6 |
Ethiopia | 5 | 3 |
Djibouti | 5 | 1 |
The group winner qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Four of the nine group runners-up qualify for a playoff to determine Africa's representative at the intercontinental qualifying playoff.
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