Late Bouda goal denies Senegal victory

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Sep 07, 2024. 00:00

Senegal saw three points slip through their fingers after Burkina Faso scored a dramatic late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium on Friday, September 6.

Sadio Mane’s sixth-minute opener looked to have secured victory for the Lions of Teranga in Dakar, but Ousseni Bouda scored from a free-kick deep into stoppage time to clinch a share of the spoils for the Stallions in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Aliou Cisse’s side were keen to keep the momentum going after they drew 1-1 with DR Congo and beat Mauritania 1-0 in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in June.

The hosts threatened as early as the eighth minute when Mane took a pop at goal and they were celebrating just eight minutes as the Al-Nassr winger pounced on a defensive mistake to tuck his shot past the goalkeeper.

Their West African rivals weren’t overawed though, and tried to get back into the game before half-time, but the home defence stood firm.

Seny Dieng was finally called into action early in the second half after Burkina Faso launched a dangerous attack and forced him to make a save on 58 minutes and the Senegal keeper had to be alert once more to keep out another goal-bound strike in the 74th minute.

The Lions of Teranga bossed possession in the closing stages of the match without creating anything of note and they were punished in added time when Bouda beat Dieng with a well-executed free-kick.