Burkina Faso emerged 3-1 winners over Eswatini in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.
With six points to their name, the Stallions are now three points clear of second-placed Togo, who will be facing Cape Verde in Praia on Tuesday evening, at the top of Group B.
Meanwhile, Eswatini are third with a single point under their belt after their first two continental outings, having conceded five goals and scored three along the way.
Burkina Faso showed their attacking intentions early on as Gustavo Sangare came close to giving them the lead in the third minute with a bullet header at the far post that sailed slightly over the crossbar after a cross by Issa Kabore.
With Eswatini struggling to combine going forward, Sangare had another chance on 26 minutes to break the deadlock for Frimin Sanou’s charges with a left-footed volley from a rebound on the edge of the box that sailed narrowly wide of the far post.
The former Salitas winger continued to be a thorn in the flesh for Eswatini as he had a big chance just after the half-hour mark for Burkina Faso from a through ball over the defence but he scooped his shot over the crossbar with only goalkeeper Mathabela Sandanezwe to beat.
Dominic Kunene’s troops, meanwhile, were pinned back in their own half in the closing phase of the first stanza and were unable to fashion chances.
The second-half was played at a much faster pace with many chances on goal-scoring chances created by both teams.
Eswatini took the lead in the 64th minute as Sizolwakhe Ngwenya fed Sabelo Ndzinisa and the striker made no mistake from 20-yards out.
Burkina Faso managed to put themselves level on the 69th minute, as Edmond Tapsoba picked Dango Ouattara at the end of the box and the youngster slotted powerful shot into the back of the net.
The Stallions took the lead on the 75th minute Ouattara took advantage of some poor defending to blast home from long range.
Alje Schut almost increased Sundowns advantage 10 minutes after the halftime break but the defender steered his header just wide of the upright.
Eswatini’s task got tougher in the 84th minute as skipper Lindo Thembinkosi was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Blati Toure.
Burkina Faso added a third in the 85th minute as Aziz Ki’s effort from distance easily beat Eswatini goalkeeper.
