Burkina Faso and Mali women’s teams battle to a draw in CAN 2026 warm-up

The Burkina Faso women’s national team wrapped up another round of friendly matches ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). After a scoreless draw, the Burkinabè and Malian teams once again left the pitch tied at 2-2 this past Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou.

The Malian side came out aggressively in the early stages. Just ten minutes in, striker Fatoumata Diarra put the Aiglonnes du Mali ahead with a clinical finish (0-1). The home side, the Étalons dames, responded with composure, dominating possession and testing the Malian defense repeatedly.

Midway through the first half, a rebound off the crossbar fell to Déborah Guira, who slotted home the equalizer (1-1). The Burkina Faso team maintained their momentum, with Judicaëlle Ouoba capitalizing on a well-built attack to restore their lead, firing past the Malian goalkeeper from close range (2-1). The whistle blew for halftime with Burkina Faso in front.

Malian resilience levels the score

In the second half, the Burkinabè enjoyed greater control of the ball, but the Malian side pressed forward, struggling to break down the disciplined home defense. A decisive moment arrived when the referee awarded a penalty to Mali, which Aissata Traoré converted with confidence, restoring parity at 2-2. The final whistle confirmed the draw, though both teams pushed for a winner until the last second.

The first friendly between the two sides had also ended in a goalless stalemate. These matches are part of preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, set to take place in Morocco.

The Burkina Faso squad finds itself in a competitive group alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and South Africa. Meanwhile, Mali shares its group with Ghana, Cape Verde, and Cameroon. The tournament is scheduled to run from July 25 to August 16, 2026. These friendlies offer Pascal Sawadogo and his players a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their tactics before the continental showdown.