The local select side of the Burkinabe national team, the Stallions, ended the Black Stars dream of qualifying to the 2018 CHAN tournament by winning 2-1 in the second leg encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on Sunday.
The result, combined with their 2-2 draw in the first leg of the qualifier against Ghana at the Stade d’4Aust in Ouagadougou last weekend means the aggregate score is 4-3 in Burkina Faso’s favour.
Despite playing away from home, Burkina Faso started like a house on fire and surprised coach Maxwell Konadu-led team by scoring in the eighth minute through Sylla Mohammed who was on target for the Stallions in the first leg.
Ghana came close to equalising but Kotoko’s Saddick Adams, who was recovering from an injury, squandered most of the chances much to the disappointment of the fans that had thronged the stadium to offer their support.
Burkina Faso wasted no time to double their lead on the half hour mark when Herman turned the ball home after a well-worked passing move to beat Ghanaian goalkeeper, Joseph Addo.
Ghana tried to find their way back into the game through efforts by Richmond Lamptey and Hearts of Oak’s Patrick Razak but were unable to pull a goal back before the break.
The Black Stars continued to push forward in the second half and they did manage to score a consolation goal on the hour mark, courtesy of a strike form substitute Felix Addo.
Burkina Faso tightened up at the back after conceding and managed to hold on for the victory which saw them qualify for CHAN next year in Kenya.
Today Sports
…with Gottlieb Baako