Burkina Faso and Mali share the spoils in Women’s AFCON 2026 warm-up

The Etalons have concluded their latest series of friendly encounters as they gear up for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026. Following a scoreless draw in their previous meeting, Burkina Faso and Mali fought to a 2-2 stalemate this Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou.

The visitors were the first to find the back of the net. In the 10th minute, Fatoumata Diarra put the Malian Aiglonnes ahead with an early strike. Despite conceding first, the Etalons maintained their composure and began to dominate play, controlling the tempo and keeping the Malian side under constant pressure.

The equalizer arrived when Deborah Guira pounced on a rebound after the ball struck the crossbar, clinical in her finish to make it 1-1. The home side continued to press their advantage, and Judicaëlle Ouoba soon turned the game around with a spectacular shot into the top corner. The Malian goalkeeper was left powerless against the strike, allowing the squad led by coach Pascal Sawadogo to head into the halftime break with a 2-1 lead.

Mali fights back to level the score

In the second half, Burkina Faso enjoyed the majority of possession. While Mali looked to strike on the break, they initially struggled to find gaps in the solid Burkinabè defensive structure.

The Aiglonnes eventually found their opening through a penalty, which was successfully converted by Aissata Traoré to bring the score to 2-2. Both teams continued to search for a winning goal until the final whistle, but the defenses remained resolute.

This draw follows a 0-0 result in the first leg of this friendly double-header. These matches are a vital part of the preparation for the Women’s AFCON finals set to take place in Morocco. In the upcoming tournament, Burkina Faso is placed in a group with Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and South Africa. Meanwhile, Mali will compete in a group featuring Ghana, Cape Verde, and Cameroon.

The competition is scheduled to run from July 25 to August 16, 2026. This friendly fixture provided a crucial opportunity for Pascal Sawadogo and his players to fine-tune their strategy as they represent the latest in Faso current affairs on the sporting stage ahead of the continental tournament.