MATCH FACTS: Egypt seek first win as Burkina Faso eye quarterfinals at TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON

Egypt will look for their first points and Burkina Faso their second victory when the pair meet in a Group B clash in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday.
This is the second meeting between Egypt and Burkina Faso at the TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON.
Their previous clash at the finals was in their final group game in 2011, with both teams needing a win to progress. Burkina Faso won 4-0 as Bertrand Traore scored a brace with Zaniou Sana and Faycal Ouedraogo also scoring for the Burkinabe.
After defeating Egypt in their final group game at the 2011 finals, Burkina Faso would overcome Congo and hosts Rwanda in the semi-finals and final respectively enroute to winning their first title.
EGYPT FACTS
· Their 4-3 loss to South Africa on Monday was the first time Egypt have ever lost their opening group game at the finals. In 2003 and 2005 they had gone undefeated through the group phase. In 2011 they won their opening game against Senegal
· Their defeat to South Africa saw Egypt lose a third successive group game. They lost on match day two and three in the 2011 edition, against Rwanda and Burkina Faso.
· Against South Africa, the Egyptians conceded four goals in a game at the finals for the second time. The other occasion was in a 4-0 loss to Burkina Faso in 2011.
· Egypt's first six group games at the finals in 1997 and 2003 had produced just 6 goals with them scoring all six. Since then, across the 2011 and 2025 editions, a total of 15 goals have been scored in their last four group games combined. They have netted five and conceded 10.
· Egypt's defeat in their opening game against South Africa was the first time they have scored three goals in a game at the finals. The seven goals scored in the game is the most in a single fixture involving Egypt at the finals.
· Should Egypt fail to win they would go through their first two group games at a finals without winning for the first time.
· Egypt's record in their second group game at the finals reads P3 W1 D1 L1. Previously in their second fixture, Egypt drew 0-0 with Mali in 1997 and won 1-0 against Guinea in 2003. They lost 1-0 to hosts Rwanda in 2011.
· Egypt have now lost their last three group games and have conceded a goal in each of their last six games at the finals. Their last clean-sheet was in a 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone in their final group game in 2003.
· Egypt were able to complete 304 passes in their game against South Africa, with a passing accuracy of 78.1%
· In their loss to South Africa, the Egyptians were able to score with three of their four shots on target.
· Egypt's three goals in that game were scored in the first half, all inside 18 minutes, the most goals scored by Egypt at the finals in a single half of any game.
· Mohamed Sherif completed 44 passes against South Africa, the most by any Egyptian player in their opening game.
BURKINA FASO FACTS
· Burkina Faso began their 2025 Group B campaign with a 2-1 win over Cameroon. They won their opening game for a third time along with 2001 and 2009 but lost in 2011 and 2023.
· Victory for Burkina Faso over Egypt will see them begin the tournament with successive wins for a third time along with 2001 and 2009.
· Should they avoid defeat, Burkina Faso will open the tournament without losing across their first two games for a fourth time. In 1999 they drew their opening two games, while in 2001 and 2009 they won their opening two games.
· Burkina Faso's record in their second group game at the finals reads P7 W5 D1 L1.
· Their 2-1 loss to Nigeria in 2007 is Burkina Faso's only defeat in their second group game at the finals.
· All seven of Burkina Faso's previous second group games have produced goals, and they have scored in each of these.
· Asharaf Tapsoba scored a brace for Burkina Faso in their opening game win over Cameroon, netting in the 19th and 41st minutes. Tapsoba scored with both of his shots on target in the win over Cameroon.
· Tapsoba's first goal against Cameroon was Burkina Faso's 50th at the finals.
· Despite winning their opener against Cameroon, The Burkinabe could only manage 31% of the possession. They have not had over 50% possession in any of their last six games at the finals.
· Against Cameroon, Burkina Faso only completed 105 passes.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Al-Ahram Weekly

2 days ago

• Al-Ahram Weekly

Messi strikes as Inter Miami stun Porto at Club World Cup

The Argentine superstar found the top corner with a second half set-piece to clinch a surprise victory for the MLS side and give them a strong chance of progressing from Group A. Inter Miami and Palmeiras have four points each, after the Brazilian side beat Ahly 2-0 earlier on -- the Egyptians like Porto have one point. Samu Aghehowa's early penalty gave the Portuguese side the lead as they had the better of the first half and could have scored more. However Telasco Segovia blasted Miami level and then Messi's free-kick helped them claim a noteworthy scalp, in a match many thought would be straightforward for Porto. Co-owned by former England international David Beckham, Inter Miami played their first MLS match in 2020 and signed Messi in 2023, raising their profile significantly. This was the first competitive victory for an MLS side over European opposition, in their second encounter after Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC earlier in the week. Even with Messi, arguably the face of the tournament, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was under half-full at kick-off, hamstrung by another 3:00 pm kick-off on a working day as it was for Chelsea's opener at the venue. More fans entered throughout the game, keen to get a glimpse of the 37-year-old widely considered to be the game's greatest ever player, with nearly 32,000 present in the end. Messi did not disappoint and was the game's outstanding player, involved heavily from the off. The former Barcelona great clipped a dipping ball in behind for veteran striker Luis Suarez, who could only prod it at the goalkeeper and had strayed offside in any case. Porto took the lead in the eighth minute after being awarded a soft penalty after a VAR review, as Miami defender Noah Allen made light contact with Joao Mario in the box. Spain international Samu Aghehowa beat Oscar Ustari, who had saved a penalty in the goalless draw against Al Ahly, even though the stopper got a hand to his low effort. Uruguayan striker Suarez, 38, might have levelled after Messi threaded him through on goal but, forced to use his weaker left foot, Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos denied him. Javier Mascherano's side almost levelled through US international Benjamin Cremaschi after a charge forward from Suarez broke open Porto's defence, but Ramos made a smart near post stop to thwart him. Maximiliano Falcon brilliantly headed off his own goal-line with Ustari beaten by Rodrigo Mora's effort to keep Inter Miami hopes alive. Ustari denied Aghehowa and then scrambled the ball to safety as it rolled towards his net after Alan Varela crashed a shot off the upright and it hit him on the back, as Porto turned the screw before the break. Miami comeback Inter Miami levelled right at the start of the second half, with Segovia blasting home Marcelo Weigandt's inviting cut-back to stun the Portuguese side. Messi then sent Miami ahead with a goal all of his own making after 54 minutes. The playmaker was brought down outside the area and dusted himself down before arrowing a classic Messi free-kick into the top right corner. Miami battled hard to keep Porto at bay and groans travelled around the stadium after seven minutes of stoppage time was announced. Mascherano's players thew themselves in the way of shots in a way the former Argentine defensive midfielder would have done himself, and Inter Miami were eventually able to claim their much-craved victory. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:

CAF

2 days ago

• CAF

El-Shenawy urges Al Ahly to 'raise the level', targets Palmeiras scalp

Published: Thursday, 19 June 2025 Mohamed El-Shenawy says Al Ahly must show sharper concentration and 'win, not draw' when they face Palmeiras in Thursday's pivotal Club World Cup group match in New Jersey. The captain's late heroics preserved a 0-0 stalemate against Inter Miami on matchday one, the Egypt international clawing Lionel Messi's stoppage-time effort out of the humid Florida night. Yet the 35-year-old believes a single point is only a platform, not a prize. 'We will enter the Palmeiras match with high concentration, and we seek to please Al-Ahly fans,' he said. 'The players know the importance of the match. Our goal is to win, not draw. We must focus on the small details.' El-Shenawy, who described duelling the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as 'a dream', explained how anticipation rather than reflexes saved the day in Miami. 'When you play against Messi you consider all possibilities,' he said. 'I did not expect him to shoot from that angle, but God helped me to stop the ball.' That moment of foresight typifies the approach Al Ahly will need against a Palmeiras side who peppered Porto with 17 shots yet could not break the deadlock. Rising star Estevão, bound for Chelsea next year, provides a fresh threat the Egyptians know well after two previous Club World Cup meetings with the Verdão. While Palmeiras have trained at full strength, José Ribeiro's squad must cope without injured trio Emam Ashour, Taher Mohamed Taher and Ahmed Nabil Kouka. El-Shenawy revealed the group have turned to practical measures to offset an unusual 12:00 local kick-off (19:00 Cairo). 'We're not used to playing at noon,' he admitted. 'We've been waking up early for two days to get used to the time and atmosphere. All the players are ready.' Al Ahly's previous encounters with the Brazilians produced one famous victory and one narrow defeat, both coloured by international-call-up absences. El-Shenawy expects another intense contest. 'In the first match, when we won, we were better prepared; in the second we had players away at AFCON,' he said. 'This one will be difficult and intense, but we want to win.' Nearly 40,000 Egyptian expatriates jammed Times Square before the Inter Miami opener, a sight El-Shenawy says lifted the squad. 'When fans attend, it's a positive thing. In the Palmeiras match there will be a large presence from both sides. God willing, we will make the fans happy here and in Egypt.' With Group A perfectly poised after three goalless draws, victory for either team would leave them a point away from the last 16. El-Shenawy's message is clear: 'We have turned the page on Miami—now it is time for a result.'

CAF

4 days ago

• CAF

WAFCON D-18: South Africa reverses its fate

Published: Tuesday, 17 June 2025 The countdown continues for the CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024. As anticipation builds for the tournament's 13th edition, looks back at some of the most memorable moments in the competition's history. Today, we spotlight South Africa's historic triumph in the 2022 edition. Just 18 days to go until the 2024 CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Four times finalists, four times broken. But in Rabat, on July 23, 2022, South Africa broke the curse. Banyana Banyana finally lifted their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations by dominating the host country, Morocco (2-1). A liberating victory, awaited for more than 20 years, in an electric atmosphere. "This title is for all those who have failed before us," said Desiree Ellis, her eyes misty, after the final. The former captain, who became coach in 2016, symbolises the perseverance of a group that has often stumbled to the top (1995, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018). This time, the march held. Hildah Magaia, impeccable in the last move, was the detonator. A brace in eight minutes (63rd, 71st) to blow up Moroccan hopes. Rosella Ayane's equaliser (80') did not change anything: South Africa finally had their star. "We had a plan. And above all, we were furious," confided Magaia, icy in her efficiency. The 2022 AFCON was one of control: 6 wins in 6 games, 7 goals scored, only 3 conceded. A solid collective, carried by the Magaia-Kgatlana duo (5 goals between them), a disciplined defence, and a goalkeeper, Andile Dlamini, voted best of the tournament. More than a coronation, it is a deliverance. South Africa is no longer chasing its destiny. She holds it.