MATCH FACTS: Egypt seek first win as Burkina Faso eye quarterfinals at TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON

Egypt will look for their first points and Burkina Faso their second victory when the pair meet in a Group B clash in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday.

This is the second meeting between Egypt and Burkina Faso at the TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON.

Their previous clash at the finals was in their final group game in 2011, with both teams needing a win to progress. Burkina Faso won 4-0 as Bertrand Traore scored a brace with Zaniou Sana and Faycal Ouedraogo also scoring for the Burkinabe.

After defeating Egypt in their final group game at the 2011 finals, Burkina Faso would overcome Congo and hosts Rwanda in the semi-finals and final respectively enroute to winning their first title.

EGYPT FACTS
·      Their 4-3 loss to South Africa on Monday was the first time Egypt have ever lost their opening group game at the finals. In 2003 and 2005 they had gone undefeated through the group phase. In 2011 they won their opening game against Senegal

·      Their defeat to South Africa saw Egypt lose a third successive group game. They lost on match day two and three in the 2011 edition, against Rwanda and Burkina Faso.

·      Against South Africa, the Egyptians conceded four goals in a game at the finals for the second time. The other occasion was in a 4-0 loss to Burkina Faso in 2011.

·      Egypt’s first six group games at the finals in 1997 and 2003 had produced just 6 goals with them scoring all six. Since then, across the 2011 and 2025 editions, a total of 15 goals have been scored in their last four group games combined. They have netted five and conceded 10.

·      Egypt’s defeat in their opening game against South Africa was the first time they have scored three goals in a game at the finals. The seven goals scored in the game is the most in a single fixture involving Egypt at the finals.

·      Should Egypt fail to win they would go through their first two group games at a finals without winning for the first time.

·      Egypt’s record in their second group game at the finals reads P3 W1 D1 L1. Previously in their second fixture, Egypt drew 0-0 with Mali in 1997 and won 1-0 against Guinea in 2003. They lost 1-0 to hosts Rwanda in 2011.

·      Egypt have now lost their last three group games and have conceded a goal in each of their last six games at the finals. Their last clean-sheet was in a 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone in their final group game in 2003.

·      Egypt were able to complete 304 passes in their game against South Africa, with a passing accuracy of 78.1%

·      In their loss to South Africa, the Egyptians were able to score with three of their four shots on target.

·      Egypt’s three goals in that game were scored in the first half, all inside 18 minutes, the most goals scored by Egypt at the finals in a single half of any game.

·      Mohamed Sherif completed 44 passes against South Africa, the most by any Egyptian player in their opening game.

BURKINA FASO FACTS
·      Burkina Faso began their 2025 Group B campaign with a 2-1 win over Cameroon. They won their opening game for a third time along with 2001 and 2009 but lost in 2011 and 2023.

·      Victory for Burkina Faso over Egypt will see them begin the tournament with successive wins for a third time along with 2001 and 2009.

·      Should they avoid defeat, Burkina Faso will open the tournament without losing across their first two games for a fourth time. In 1999 they drew their opening two games, while in 2001 and 2009 they won their opening two games.

·      Burkina Faso’s record in their second group game at the finals reads P7 W5 D1 L1.

·      Their 2-1 loss to Nigeria in 2007 is Burkina Faso’s only defeat in their second group game at the finals.

·      All seven of Burkina Faso’s previous second group games have produced goals, and they have scored in each of these.

·      Asharaf Tapsoba scored a brace for Burkina Faso in their opening game win over Cameroon, netting in the 19^th and 41^st minutes. Tapsoba scored with both of his shots on target in the win over Cameroon.

·      Tapsoba’s first goal against Cameroon was Burkina Faso’s 50^th at the finals.

·      Despite winning their opener against Cameroon, The Burkinabe could only manage 31% of the possession. They have not had over 50% possession in any of their last six games at the finals.

·      Against Cameroon, Burkina Faso only completed 105 passes.