Match details. Africa Cup of Nations Qualification, Group Stage - 3. Kick-off is Fri 13 Nov, 17:00 Lagos time. It is played at Stade du 4 Aout, Ouagadougou.
What's at stake. Burkina Faso are 2nd on 4 points after 2 games, 3 points behind Benin, 1 point clear of Mauritania. A win would take them level on points with Benin. Mauritania are 3rd on 3 points after 2 games, 1 point behind Burkina Faso, 3 points clear of Central African Republic. A win would take them above Burkina Faso.
Form. Burkina Faso have won six, drawn two and lost two of their last ten, 2.0 points a game. Their last five, newest first: W D L W L. In this competition Burkina Faso have gone W D. Mauritania have won four, drawn two and lost four of their last ten, 1.4 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L W L L D. In this competition Mauritania have gone L W.
The numbers. Burkina Faso score 1.6 and concede 0.7 a game over their last ten, with five clean sheets and three games without a goal. Burkina Faso average 11.5 shots (2.7 on target), 6.0 corners and 1.6 cards a game, with 56% of the ball. Mauritania score 0.8 and concede one a game over their last ten, with five clean sheets and five games without a goal. Mauritania average 11.0 shots (3.5 on target), 3.0 corners and 1.0 cards a game.
Head to head. In the last four meetings Burkina Faso have won two, drawn none and lost two. None of the four went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in none. The last time they met, on 13 Aug 2025, it finished Burkina Faso 0-1 Mauritania.
The case against. Mauritania's record still gives them 36% to win.
The read. Burkina Faso to win. A tight game. Their goals for and against make Burkina Faso the likelier winners; Burkina Faso are the stronger side on form and the table; both teams' records favour Burkina Faso. Their goals for and against point to a tight game. Their records put over 1.5 goals at 54%, over 2.5 at 34%, under 4.5 at 99%. Four of the last four meetings went under 2.5.
The bets. Best bet: Under 3.5 Goals at 1.20, rated 77% (Burkina Faso: under 3.5 goals in 8 of 10; Mauritania: under 3.5 goals in 8 of 10). The safer one: Mauritania Under 1.5 Goals at 1.12 (88%). Full cover: Over 0.5 Goals at 1.09. Whenever the best bet loses, this one wins. Predicted score: Burkina Faso 1-0 Mauritania (16% chance).
The agreed story. Burkina Faso or the draw, a tight game.
Their internationals. National teams: read from their own internationals. Burkina Faso in their last internationals: lost 0-7 at Argentina (rated above them), won 1-0 at Central African Republic, drew 1-1 v Benin. Mauritania in their last internationals: lost 1-2 at Benin, won 3-1 v Central African Republic. Too few internationals to judge the side from.
So. A close match: the safest pick that fits.
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and a tight game).