Ten-woman Burkina Faso and Uganda crashed out of the 2022 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations at the group stage of Friday when they played out to a 2-2 draw on Friday.
The result of the entertaining match in Casablanca was not enough to advance from Group A of the tournament in Morocco that has been dominated by the hosts and Senegal.
Goalkeeping errors aided the two sides to their victories as Burkina needed to respond on two occasions after the East Africans had taken the lead.
Margret Kunihira put Uganda in the lead and the amazing solo effort from Adama Congo drew her side level before Naomie Kabre’s fortuitous effort cancelled out Sandra Nabweteme’s goal.
Despite losing defender Madinatou Rouamba in the 17th minute it did not deter Burkina from pressing forward as both sides needed to win the match to stand any chance of advancing.
The two sides’ inability to win their first matches meant that they needed to win the game to have a chance of finishing among the best third placed teams.
Kunihira put Uganda in early as her feeble shot managed to beat Burkina goalkeeper Mariam Ouattara before Rouamba was given her marching orders for a dangerous tackle.
Congo weaved some magic after outwitting three defenders to equalise before a weak effort by Nabweteme restored Uganda lead.
Uganda goalkeeper Daisy Nakaziro failed to properly handle Balkissa Sawadogo’s cross which resulted in the ball hitting Burkina attacker Kabre for the equaliser.
With both sides finishing the group with one point each, they will have no chance of progressing from the entertaining Group A.
Morocco will now play the best third-placed teams from either group B or C in the quarter-final while second place Senegal will face the winner of Group B.
Winners of the quarter-final matches will secure qualification to the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Two losers of the quarter-finals will have another chance to secure qualification as they will be engaged in inter-continental playoffs.
CAF MEDIA.
