The sun-drenched Stade Bouake prepares for an Africa Cup of Nations Group D battle as Burkina Faso and Mauritania face off in Tuesday afternoon's opening clash.

Looking to build on their impressive recent record, the Stallions, semi-finalists in two of the last three Africa Cup of Nations, aim to emulate their 2013 run to the final, while the Lions of Chinguetti will have their sights set on recording their first-ever win at the tournament.

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Often considered AFCON dark horses, Burkina Faso have reached the semi-finals or final in three of the five editions within the last decade.

After reaching the 2013 final, a group-stage exit followed in 2015 and they missed the tournament altogether in 2019.

Their route to Ivory Coast was not smooth sailing, with three consecutive qualifying victories followed by a frustrating winless streak in their final three games. Nonetheless, they held on to top spot in the group ahead of Cape Verde, Togo and Swaziland.

Under Hubert Velud, a seasoned African football coach, Burkina Faso are tipped to finish among the top two in Group D alongside Algeria, above Angola and Mauritania.

On the pitch, the Stallions head into the tournament on a positive note, having won three of their last five matches across all competitions, including a 2-1 triumph over DR Congo in their final warm-up game. However, in-fighting within the football association could be a potential stumbling block.

Having met in a friendly as recently as October 2023, Burkina Faso boast two wins and a draw from their four encounters with Mauritania, but this will be their first-ever meeting at the AFCON.

Securing a positive result in the opening match is crucial, as it could prove decisive in the battle for the top two spots, especially if Algeria dominate the group as expected.

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Mauritania have qualified for three consecutive AFCONs since 2019, but are yet to win a game at the tournament.

However, scraping past Sudan and Gabon to reach Africa's biggest football event demonstrates their grit and determination, making them a team not to be underestimated.

Overcoming past challenges, including sanctions after withdrawing from the 2010 qualifiers, Mauritania have recently made significant strides off the pitch, which have translated into improved results on the field.

With the impressive AFCON debut of Comoros under his belt, Mauritania's coach Amir Abdou sets his sights on guiding the Lions of Chinguetti beyond the group stage.

While a goalless draw with Tunisia in their final warm-up game might offer a sliver of encouragement, Abdou will be more concerned by the lack of goals in their last three matches.

Team News

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Coach Velud has named a squad of 27 players, with an estimated 11 set to make their AFCON debut.

Having scored 17 goals in 74 appearances for his country, Aston Villa's Bertrand Traore will look to quickly recover from an injury to lead Burkina Faso's charge to win its first-ever major tournament.

Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara is another player to watch out for, as his partnership with Cedric Badolo has blossomed.

For Mauritania, coach Abdou announced a 27-man squad for the tournament, packed with well-known names like captain Aly Abeid, TP Mazembe midfielder Ibrahima Keita, former Guingamp defender Guessouma Fofana, Hemeya Tanjy and the recently-retired Bakary N'Diaye, who has been recalled to the national team.

Keep an eye on winger Aboubakary Koita, who opted to represent Mauritania in 2023, spurning the chance to play for Belgium or Senegal. The prolific scorer has netted an impressive 11 goals in just 20 Jupiler Pro League appearances for Sint-Truiden this season.

Burkina Faso possible starting lineup:
Konate; Tapsoba, Dayo, Nagalo, Guiebre; Blati Toure, Aziz Ki, Guira, Sangare; Ouattara, Badolo

Mauritania possible starting lineup:
Niasse; Keita, El Abd, N'Diaye, Abeid; Gassama, Bouna,Thiam; Mahmoud, Tanjy, Koita

We say: Burkina Faso 1-0 Mauritania

Burkina Faso may struggle to break down a stubborn Mauritania defence on Tuesday, but their experience and superior firepower should give them the edge.


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