WCQ: Burkina Faso end Algeria’s winning run

Burkina Faso fought back to hold Algeria to a 1-1 draw in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualification – Group A – match at the Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday night.

The draw left Algeria’s Desert Foxes at the top of the group standings – level on points with second-placed Burkina Faso’s Stallions with four matches left.

The Desert Foxes controlled the game from the start and the first chance of the game fell for Islam Slimani, but the Olympique Lyonnais striker was let down by his first touch in the box.

However, the visitors did get to open the scoring 18 minutes into the encounter when Sofiane Feghouli fired past goalkeeper Herve Koffi to make it 1-0 to Algeria after being set up by the hard-working Slimani.

Koffi was a busy man between the sticks as he produced two superb saves to deny Ramy Bensebaini and Slimani, who came into the match having netted four times against Djibouti last week.

The Stallions took control of the game towards the half-time break, but Djamel Benlamri and Bensebaini made important inceptions and clearances at the back to ensure that the first-half ended with Algeria leading 1-0.

Burkina Faso continued to surge forward in numbers after the restart as they looked to level matters and the visitors had to substitute their key defender Bensebaini after he picked up an injury.

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The hosts then leveled matters four minutes after the hour-mark when Abdoul Tapsoba beat keeper Rais M’bolhi with a decent finish to make it 1-1 with Lassina Traore providing the assist.

The Desert Foxes then piled pressure on the Stallions and their star attacker Riyad Mahrez was brought down in the box by Adama Guira, but calls for a penalty were ignored by referee Joshua Bondo of Botswana.

Ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw with Algeria extending their impressive unb