Burkina Faso 3–1 Ethiopia: Late Drama, Missed Chances, and One Man’s Hat-Trick!

The sun was blazing, the stakes were high, and the roar from the stands in Ouagadougou said it all. Ethiopia came to fight — but Pierre Landry Kabore had other plans.

A Hero from the Bench

Burkina Faso’s super-sub Kabore turned the game on its head with a late, stunning hat-trick that could send The Stallions one step closer to the World Cup dream.
Ethiopia, though, didn’t go down without a fight. The Walias showed passion and energy but couldn’t hold back the storm in the final minutes.

Ethiopia’s Bright Start

The first half was tense. Stephane Aziz Ki and Bertrand Traore fired warnings, but Ethiopia’s keeper Firew Getahun stood firm with two brave saves. When Mohamed Zougrana blasted over from close range, the Ethiopian fans started to believe luck was on their side.

Kabore Changes Everything

Then came the turning point. Just after the hour mark, substitute Kabore slipped behind the defence, poked the ball past Getahun — and the stadium exploded.
He wasn’t done. Ten minutes later, he struck again, doubling the lead with ice-cold precision.

Ayten’s Spark of Hope

Ethiopia refused to quit. Biniam Ayten gave them a lifeline in the 84th minute, firing home a confident finish that reignited hope of a famous comeback.
But just as the Walias pushed forward, Kabore broke free again in stoppage time — rounding Getahun to seal his hat-trick and crush Ethiopian hearts.

What’s Next for Ethiopia?

The defeat ends Ethiopia’s qualifying journey on a sour note, but their spirit and fighting display give fans plenty to build on. The Walias walked off the pitch proud — even if the scoreboard didn’t tell the full story.