BY OUR MAN IN CASABLANCA
THE legendary Mohammed V Stadium has seen its fair share of history, but last night it played host to a New Year’s Eve masterclass as Burkina Faso galloped into the AFCON knockouts.
In the shadows of Casablanca’s towering minarets and the salt-spray of the Atlantic, the Stallions proved they are the real deal, brushing aside a gritty Sudan 2-0 to secure their spot in the Round of 16.
For Sudan, this iconic Moroccan cauldron proved a bridge too far.
Despite the deafening support from a traveling contingent that turned a corner of Casablanca into a sea of red, green, and black, the Falcons of Jediane simply couldn’t find their wings.
The drama kicked off early when Sudan were handed a golden ticket in the 26th minute.
The stadium held its breath as Al Gozoli Nooh stepped up to the penalty spot, but the pressure of the historic venue seemed to weigh heavy as he failed to convert, leaving the Sudanese fans in the stands shell-shocked.
Burkina Faso didn’t need a second invitation to punish the miss. Lassina Traore broke the deadlock with a clinical finish that silenced the “home” crowd and sent the Burkinabe bench into raptures.
As the Moroccan sun dipped below the horizon, the Stallions retreated into a defensive shell that would have made a desert tortoise proud. Sudan huffed and puffed, but they couldn’t blow the house down in a stadium known for its intimidating atmosphere.
The knockout blow arrived late in the second half. With Sudan committing bodies forward in a desperate New Year’s Eve gamble, Arsene Kouassi found the net to make it 2-0 and ensure the party in Ouagadougou would start early.
While Burkina Faso celebrate a second-place finish in Group E, Sudan are left to sweat on the mathematics of the best third-placed teams.
They’ll be hoping the magic of Casablanca hasn’t completely run out as they look to sneak into the next round.
