El Mami Tetah (left) of Mauritania battles for the ball with Moumou Diallo of Burkina Faso during the CHAN Group B clash at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es salaam, Tanzania on August 13, 2025. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
Host Tanzania’s Taifa Stars remain untouchable at the summit of the African Nations championship Chan group B with a flawless performance that has seen them win three times on the trot.
But behind this impressive form is a three-way street fight for the last ticket to the quarter finals.
Mauritania eked out a nervy 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Wednesday night in a match that showed how patience, discipline and a touch of luck can make all the difference.
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Aritz Lopez Garay’s Al Murabitoune maintained their composure against a physical and well drilled Stallions side coached by Issa Balboune.
The match’s turning point came in the 39th minute when Abdoulaye Touré’s hard tackle earned him a yellow card which was quickly upgraded to a red after VAR’s intervention.
“The VAR changed the game for us but discipline, focus and belief is what carried us through. Two wins in a row at this level is historical for us,” said Garay during post match media interview.
Just six minutes later technology intervened again.
A tangle in the box saw South Africa’s referee Jelly Alfred chavani point to the spot with Alassane Diop calmly sending Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper Ladji Brahima Sanou the wrong way.
In the second half, Mauritania displayed masterful game management, keeping possession, rotating their midfield and weathering Burkina Faso’s late waves of attack.
“They were better, more clinical, we learned from this and we will be back stronger,” said Burkina Faso’s Coach Issa Balboune.
While Mauritania’s triumph was about control, the early kick off of Madagascar’s clash with Central African Republic was all about sudden high impact moments.
The first half played out like a strategic chess match, probing attacks met with resolute defending, punctuated with a flurry of yellow cards.
But Madagascar’s tactician Romuald Rakotondraibe unleashed a tactical shift at halftime transforming from a cautious 3-5-2 to dynamic 4-4-2 that injected pace and width into his side.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 84th minute when super substitute Toky Niaina Rakotondraibe latched onto a perfect weighted pass, keeping his nerve to slot low past goalkeeper Geoffrey Lembet.
Just as it looked like the Central African Republic could stage a comeback, Nomena Rafanomezantsoa slipped into the box during stoppage time to score the second goal sending the small group of Malagasy supporters into wild celebration.
Goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa was the unsung match hero pulling off reflex saves and commanding his area.
”Step by step, we are building momentum; it is Burkina Faso next. We are very much ready for the quarter finals fight,” said Michel after he was named man of the match.
For Central African Republic boss Sebastian Ngato, the defeat was painful.
”We created chances but lacked that last touch. These young players are still learning,” he said.
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars still dominate the group after winning in all three matches, scoring five goals conceding only one and topping the table with nine points.
Mauritania are second with seven points from four matches and are in solid second place and almost certain to progress.
Madagascar and Burkina Faso are fighting for the remaining knockout contention with four and three points respectively.
Central African Republic are out of contention having lost all their three matches.
With the final round set for tomorrow at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and Amaan Stadiums in Zanzibar, the possible outcomes are electrifying.
Tanzania can top the group with a draw against Central African Republic while Mauritania sit on the edge of qualification.
Madagascar and Burkina Faso face an all or nothing showdown in a clash that could decide the final the last spot in the quarter finals.