Burkina Faso secured second place in Group E at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a win over Sudan, who advance to the last 16 as one of four best-ranked third-placed teams.
Both sides were assured of progress behind table-topping Algeria before kick-off in Casablanca and the respective coaches rotated their sides ahead of the knockout stage.
Lassina Traore was left unmarked six yards out to head in Stephane Aziz Ki’s chipped ball across the box to open the scoring in the 16th minute.
Al Gozoli Nooh missed the chance to equalise from the penalty spot midway through the first half after being brought down by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi.
Left-back Arsene Kouassi added a second for the West Africans with five minutes remaining, slotting Dango Ouattara’s through ball just inside the left-hand post.
Sudan will travel north to Tangier to take on 2021 winners Senegal on Saturday, 3 January (16:00 GMT).
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso have set up a tie against the winner of Group F – which could be Ivory Coast, Cameroon or Mozambique – in Marrakesh on Tuesday, 6 January (19:00 GMT).
The Stallions will discover their opponents later on Wednesday when the group stage concludes.
Burkina Faso made seven changes but returned to winning ways after their 1-0 defeat by Algeria on Sunday and the only concern for coach Brama Toure may be the fitness of first-choice keeper Koffi, who was replaced at half-time after requiring treatment to his right thigh.
Sudan’s 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea earlier the same day proved enough to see them through to the knockout stage for the first time since 2012 after results in the final round of games in Groups A and B went in their favour.
With the country still in the midst of a civil war which started in April 2023, coach James Kwei Appiah had talked about putting “smiles on the faces” of the Sudanese people at the finals and their qualification for the last 16 has certainly done that.
But the sizeable band of Falcons of Jediane fans were left disappointed when Nooh dragged his spot kick wide of the left-hand upright in the 24th minute.
Forward Aamir Abdallah – the only player retained from the starting XI which beat the Equatoguineans – fired narrowly wide for the 1970 champions just before the hour mark and Nooh drew a save from substitute goalkeeper Kilian Nikiema.
Brentford forward Ouattara climbed off the bench to put the result beyond doubt, but both sides could now face former champions in the last 16.
