On Monday evening, Zanzibar edged Burkina Faso 2-1 at a fully packed Gombani Stadium in Pemba to lift the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup.

Burkina Faso started strongly, launching relentless attacks led by their star forward, Aboubacar Traore. Zanzibar were forced to sit deep, relying on their defensive duo of Issa Miranda and Abdallah Kheri and goalkeeper Yakub Suleiman, who produced crucial saves, including a spectacular denial from a corner.

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Zanzibar, however, found their breakthrough in the 40th minute through a perfectly executed counterattack. Suleiman initiated the move, quickly releasing Masud Saleh, who combined beautifully with Fei Toto before finding an overlapping Salum Khamis Gado.

Gado delivered a precise low cross into the box, which Ibrahim Hamad Hilika stylishly flicked home with the back of his boot. The goal sent the home fans into a frenzy as Zanzibar led 1-0 at halftime, one of Zanzibar’s technical bench officials was red-carded after having an altercation with the match officials.

The second half saw Burkina Faso push for an equalizer, with Traore finally finding the net in the 69th minute. His ferocious shot from the edge of the box left Suleiman helpless, silencing the jubilant home crowd and setting the stage for a tense finale.

With the game seemingly destined for penalties, Zanzibar produced a moment of magic in added time. The Burkina Faso defense initially cleared a corner from Fei Toto, but the loose ball fell perfectly to Hassan Haji Cheda at the edge of the box. Wasting no time, Cheda unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike into the far-right corner, beating Patrick Mareh to secure the 2-1 victory.

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