Burkina Faso and Uganda have both been eliminated from the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after they played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in their final group A clash at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Friday.
Both sides needed a win to stand a chance of being among the best third-placed finishers in the pool stages, but a draw helps neither of them and they will go home after the group phase.
The fixture was a match of two halves as there were four goals and a red card in a thrilling opening period, but the teams could not keep up the pace in the second period and the action rather fizzled out.
Morocco top the pool with nine points, followed by Senegal (six points). Burkina Faso and Uganda have one each but the former finish third on goal difference.
After Burkina Faso had a shot cleared off the line, it was Uganda who took the lead after eight minutes.
There was a hint of good fortune about it as Margret Kunihira found herself in acres of space on the left-hand side of the box, and her tame shot squeezed past Burkinabe goalkeeper Mariam Ouattara.
The night got worse for the Burkinabe when they lost centre-back Madinatou Rouamba to a red card on 17 minutes. She was initially given a yellow card for a foul just inside her own half, but after a Video Assistant Referee review, was deemed by match official Patience Ndidi to be the last defender and the card colour changed.
Captain Auzia Najjemba might have doubled the advantage for Uganda when she was clear on goal, but her attempted chip was saved by Ouattara.
Burkina Faso then drew level after a brilliant solo goal from Adama Congo, who dribbled past three Uganda defenders before virtually passing the ball into the net.
That will be a contender for Goal of the Tournament and also the Burkinabe’s first-ever goal at a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
That joy was short-lived after another poor moment from keeper Ouattara. Sandra Nabweteme’s shot looked like an easy save, but Ouattara somehow let the ball go under her body and into the net.
The see-saw contest continued and the equaliser came from another goalkeeper error. Balkissa Sawadogo’s cross was spilled by Daisy Nakaziro and struck Burkina Faso forward Naomie Kabre before rebounding into the net.
The second half did not live up to the first, though both teams created chances but were not able to find the winner they needed to keep their hopes of a quarterfinal alive.