IN the bustling atmosphere of Dar es Salaam’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the night told two very different stories. One was of joy, pride, and a place in the history books; the other was of frustration, lessons learned, and eyes fixed on redemption.

Mauritania’s Aritz Garay Lopez (pictured) left the pitch with a wide smile, his players having secured a narrow but vital 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.

 Across the technical area, Burkina Faso’s Issa Balboune carried the weight of elimination but also the determination to build for the future. Mauritania’s Winning Mentality from the First Whistle

 For Garay Lopez, this was not just another win — it was proof of his team’s resilience and growth. From kick-off, the 'Al-Murabitoune' looked composed, organised, and hungry for victory.

 "Our team showed a lot of character from the start of the match," said Garay, still visibly pleased in the post-match press conference. "We are happy, we played well, we controlled the game and we managed to score from a penalty kick. The first half of the match was fantastic. We defended well and played better in attack as well."

 That first-half performance laid the foundation for the three points that would take Mauritania to seven points, sealing Burkina Faso’s exit.

 A Historic Achievement for Mauritanian Football

The Spanish coach didn’t hide his pride in what the result meant for Mauritania’s footballing journey. "The victory was very important. We now have seven points, and Burkina Faso were eliminated from the tournament after this result. We were excellent, but we still felt a little tired and under pressure in the second half.

He went further, underlining just how rare this moment was in the nation’s CHAN history.

"We managed to win two consecutive matches in a major and strong tournament, something Mauritania had never achieved before. We have also conceded only one goal so far in the tournament, and that was against the host country, Tanzania."

Burkina Faso’s Painful Exit

For Issa Balboune, the post-match reflections were tinged with honesty and regret. Mauritania’s clinical approach left little room for a comeback. "We lost our match against Mauritania, which was very difficult. Our opponent was better than us and took advantage of their attacking opportunities better, and played better than we did," Balboune admitted, his expression revealing the sting of defeat.

 Fighting Against Circumstance, Planning for Tomorrow, Despite the disappointment, Balboune chose to focus on the lessons learned rather than dwell on the loss. "Unfortunately, things changed during the match and went against our plans. We will continue our work to reach a better level than we have reached. We will see what happens in the future."

 His words reflected a mindset that refuses to accept defeat as the final chapter — a promise that the ‘Stallions’ will come back stronger.

Two Coaches, Two Realities

Garay Lopez’s pride mirrors the upward curve of Mauritanian football, while Balboune’s resolve hints at a longer journey for Burkina Faso.

The match was more than just a group-stage clash — it was a moment that captured the essence of tournament football: for one team, history was made; for the other, the groundwork for a brighter tomorrow began. CAFOnline.com