Preparations for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations: No winners in the friendly derby between Burkina Faso and Mali

Derby ends in a 0-0 draw

Africa Today at 16:13

In a preparatory friendly for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Burkina Faso and Mali played out a goalless draw (0-0) on Thursday at the August 4 Stadium. It was a real test that revealed the need for further tactical fine-tuning.

The crowd in Ouagadougou witnessed a fierce contest between the two neighboring teams, but goals were nowhere to be found. In the first leg of this double-header friendly ahead of the finals in Morocco, the Stallions' women, led by Pascal Sawadogo, and the Eagles' women from Mali both showed impressive defensive solidity, yet lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.

#Match Friendly between Burkina Faso and Mali | Draw between the Eagles' women and the Stallions' women

Mali 🇲🇱 and Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 finished 0-0 in Ouagadougou in their first-ever women's international friendly

The return leg is set for June 7

📷 GB Pictures 226 pic.twitter.com/k07030t21i
— BERTHE Djakardia (@BERTHEDjack17) 4 June 2026

This goalless result (0-0) gives both coaches a promising platform to build on. The two teams will meet again on June 7, at the same stadium, for the return leg.