SAN FRANCISCO, November 15, (THEWILL) –Â In a Group E African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixture, Saidi Ntibazonkiza scored a brace as hosts Burundi beat Mauritania in the Bujumbura Stade Intwari to tighten the competition for qualification for the 2022 biennial African tournament.
Ntibazonkiza, who plays in the midfield for Kaisar Kyzylorda in Kazakhstan, wasted no time in getting the hosts in front. The first of his goals came in the 6th minute. It was just what the Swallows of Burundi needed to keep their confidence of getting a good result from this fixture high.
However, Mauritania came back with a leveller in the 27th minute. Mamadou Niass, El Entag El Harby SC of Egypt forward, scored to even the game. It remained so until the second half.
Just one minute into the restart, Youssouf Ndayishimiye made it two for the Swallows. That perfect start to the second period upped the morale of the hosts and the certainty of victory was complete when Ntibazonkiza produced his second for the day in the 55th minute of the tie.
The victory brings Burundi up to third in Group E, just one point behind Mauritania in second. Morocco tops the group with seven points and still has a match to play.
