Burkina Faso claims dramatic a stoppage-time win
Two goals deep into second-half stoppage-time saw Burkina Faso snatch a 2-1 victory over 10-man Equatorial Guinea in the opening Group E match at the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Despite having a man sent off early in the second half, Equatorial Guinea took a surprise lead in the 85th minute through substitute Marvin Anieboh and looked on course to pull off another of the surprise results that characterised its performance at the previous edition of AFCON.
But Burkina Faso fought back late, with Georgi Minoungou scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage-time to equalise before Bundesliga defender Edmond Tapsoba won the points with the last effort of the game.
Burkina had looked the stronger of the two sides but their Premier League attack of Dango Ouattara and Bertrand Traore squandered chances, even after Equatorial Guinea had been reduced to 10 men when Basilio Ndiong caught Traore on his heel with a dangerous tackle five minutes into the second half.
The numerical advantage handed Burkina Faso a myriad of chances at Stade Mohammed V and they did have the ball in the net with a first touch from substitute Lassina Traore, returning to action after a long injury lay-off.
But his 71st-minute effort was ruled offside.
Equatorial Guinea then threatened another of its trademark upsets when Anieboh headed home from a rare corner with five minutes left.
Equatorial Guinea, which is the second-smallest country at the tournament being hosted in Morocco, proved a sensation at the previous finals in Ivory Coast, upsetting the host 4-0 in the group stage and finishing top of its group, but then losing out to Guinea in the Round of 16.
It was headed for another upset triumph, cleverly slowing down the game, but with eight minutes of time added on, there was still hope for Burkina Faso.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Tapsoba proved key in turning the game around, passing for Ouattara, who was felled in the box, but the loose ball was immediately swept up by Minoungou, who tucked it away from a tight angle.
With less than a minute left Burkina Faso launched a last attack through Cyriaque Irie, whose cross from the right was parried by Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono straight onto the head of Tapsoba, who steered the winner home.
