Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Burkina Faso begin their CAF Africa Cup of Nations squad with a clash against Equatorial Guinea at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – Matches will be televised across the Channel 4 network / USA – beIN Sports

How to watch online: UK – All 4 & Channel 4 Sport YouTube / USA – beIN Sports Connect & Fubo

Burkina Faso preview: Impressive Burkinabe

Burkina Faso had been declining for large parts of the last decade but they have improved themselves once again, having risen back to number 26 in the world and posed a threat to a strong Egypt side in CAF qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Under the management of Brama Traore, the so-called ‘The Stallions’, as they are nicknamed, most recently hammered Benin by three goals to nil to mean that they are now on a six-match unbeaten streak.

Equatorial Guinea preview: Regressing Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea have dealt with off-field issues in recent years but they will fancy themselves to come again, having reached the knockout stages of each of the last two CAF Africa Cup of Nations campaigns, in 2021 and in 2023.

Coached by Juan Micha, Emilio Nsue has been re-instated into the Equatorial Guinea squad after his ban and the former Middlesbrough man will be hoping they an find some much-needed improvement and consistency in the group stages.

Burkina Faso team news: Strength at both ends

The key men of tis Burkina Faso squad come in defence, with Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmund Tapsoba, and attack, versatile Sunderland attacker Bertrand Traore and Brentford man Dango Ouattara.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Koffi; Djiga, Nagalo, Tapsoba; Kabore, Toure, Ouedraogo, Ayinde; B. Traore, L. Traore, Ouattara

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Equatorial Guinea team news: Omar Mascarell key in the middle

The aforementioned Emilio Nsue remains the key man for the Equatorial Guineans with Real Mallorca defensive midfielder Omar Marscall the key stabilising factor in the middle of the park.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Jesus Owono; Carlos Akapo, Esteban Obiang, Saul Coco; Nestor Senra, Omar Mascarell, Pedro Obiang, Basilio Ndong; Emilio Nsue, Iban Salvador, Josete

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Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea prediction

Burkina Faso have been much-improved in the last year and a half or so, while Equatorial Guinea have drifted instead. Burkina Faso will seek to sit back and be very difficult to play against with the impressive attack of Bertrand Traore and Dango Ouattara. These do appear to be two of the more enterprising sides in African international football and so it may be a reasonably fun watch for the neutral.

Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea tip: Burkina Faso to win & both teams to score