MATCH FACTS: Co-hosts Tanzania open TotalEnergies CAF CHAN campaign against Burkina Faso
This Group A clash marks the first-ever CHAN meeting between the two sides, with co-hosts Tanzania aiming to break new ground and Burkina Faso seeking to improve their tournament fortunes.
Tanzania will be facing a West African opponent for the fourth time in CHAN history. Their previous encounters include a 1-0 loss to Senegal and a 1-0 win over Côte d'Ivoire in 2009, followed by a 2-2 draw against Guinea in 2020. Their overall record against West African teams at CHAN stands at one win, one draw, and one defeat.
Burkina Faso's only prior match against an East African side was a 2-1 loss to Uganda in their tournament debut in 2014. They have also faced a host nation once before—drawing 0-0 with Cameroon in their final group game of the 2020 edition.
Host nations have historically performed well in their opening matches at CHAN, winning six of the seven tournament openers to date. The only exception came in 2009 when Côte d'Ivoire, as hosts, were beaten 3-0 by Zambia. Despite this strong start, hosts have not always guaranteed progression. Côte d'Ivoire (2009) and South Africa (2014) both failed to advance from the group stage.
South Africa remains the only host nation to win their opening game and still be eliminated, after a 3-1 win over Mozambique was followed by a draw with Mali and a loss to Nigeria. Only twice have hosts reached the final—Morocco triumphed in 2018 with a 4-0 win over Nigeria, while Algeria lost the 2022 final to Senegal on penalties after a goalless draw, having not conceded a single goal in six matches. Tanzania – Key facts:
· Appearing at their third CHAN finals (2009, 2020, 2024); have never advanced beyond the group stage.
· Collected four points in both previous editions, missing out on progression by just one point each time.
· Lost both previous opening matches: 1-0 to Senegal (2009) and 2-0 to Zambia (2020).
· Identical result patterns in both past appearances: loss in the opener, win in the second match, draw in the third.
· Overall CHAN record: P6 W2 D2 L2.
· Biggest defeat: 2-0 vs Zambia (2020); biggest wins: two 1-0 victories.
· Most goals in a game: 2-2 draw with Guinea (2020).
· Have never recorded a 0-0 draw at CHAN; every match has featured goals.
· All five CHAN goals scored by five different players; no player has more than one goal. Burkina Faso – Key facts:
· Making their fourth CHAN appearance (2014, 2018, 2020, 2024); have never reached the knockout stage.
· Failed to win an opening match in all three previous editions:
o Lost 2-1 to Uganda (2014)
o Drew 0-0 with Angola (2018)
o Lost 1-0 to Mali (2020)
· Did not win any of their first seven CHAN matches (D3 L4).
· First CHAN victory came against Zimbabwe (3-1) in their second group game in 2020.
· Overall CHAN record: P9 W1 D4 L4.
· Two clean sheets: vs Angola (2018) and Cameroon (2020).
· Scored first in only two of their nine matches:
o 1-1 draw with Cameroon (2018)
o 3-1 win over Zimbabwe (2020)
· When conceding first (5 matches), have avoided defeat only once—1-1 draw with Morocco (2014).
· Qualified via WAFU Zone B:
o Lost 2-0 to Côte d'Ivoire in the first leg
o Won 2-0 in the return leg
o Won 4-2 on penalties to seal qualification
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