CAN 2027: Aiyegun Tosin responds to Lassina Traoré as Benin holds Burkina Faso

Benin secured a point on the road against Burkina Faso on Friday, September 25, 2026, in Ouagadougou. Trailing at halftime, the Squirrels equalized in the second half to finish with a 1-1 draw against the Stallions in the first round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Burkina Faso took the lead in the 20th minute when Lassina Traoré converted a penalty to give the Stallions the advantage. The Burkinabè team maintained this narrow lead until halftime.

Benin had to wait until the second half to respond. In the 68th minute, the Squirrels were awarded a penalty, which Aiyegun Tosin successfully converted to level the score at 1-1.

A point earned in Ouagadougou

The score remained unchanged until the final whistle. Benin thus leaves the Stade du 4-Août with a point in their qualification campaign, facing a Burkinabè side playing in front of their home crowd.

The match was part of the first round of Group F in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Burkina Faso and Benin share this group with Mauritania and the Central African Republic.

In the other match of the group, Mauritania defeated the Central African Republic 3-1 to take the lead with three points.

Benin will continue its campaign on September 29 against Mauritania.

Mauritania takes the lead in the group

In the other Group F match played on Thursday, Mauritania won 3-1 against the Central African Republic. Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring with a penalty in the 32nd minute, before Goduine Koyalipou equalized for the Central Africans in the 48th minute. D. Camara scored in the 69th minute, followed by M. Diallo in the 89th minute to secure victory for the Mourabitounes.

With this result, Mauritania has three points after the first round, while Burkina Faso and Benin each take one point from their encounter.