Burkina Faso 0-0 Egypt Player Ratings: Edmond Tapsoba 8/10 Rated as Stalemate Ends in a Frustrating 0-0 Draw

A tense and tactical affair in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers ended in a goalless draw. Egypt and Burkina Faso cancelled each other out completely. Both teams will walk away with a hard-earned point from this match. But both will feel they could have snatched more. From our perspective, it was a classic case of defensive solidity trumping attacking flair. The game was cagey. Chances were few and far between. Neither side managed to create clear-cut opportunities to break the deadlock.

The biggest story was the lack of impact from the star players. We noticed Mohamed Salah was kept incredibly quiet by a disciplined Burkina Faso defense. The standout performer was arguably Edmond Tapsoba, who was colossal at the back. The match was also marked by an early injury to Egypt's Omar Marmoush, which disrupted their game plan inside ten minutes. Here are the Burkina Faso vs Egypt player ratings.

Egypt Player Ratings vs Burkina Faso

Here are the Egypt player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mohamed El Shenawy - 7.0: A quiet evening for the Egyptian shot-stopper. He commanded his area well when needed. He wasn't seriously tested but remained alert throughout. It was a professional and clean performance to secure the clean sheet.

Defenders

Khaled Sobhi - 7.0: A solid and reliable performance at the back. He contributed to a strong defensive line. He made several important clearances. We thought he looked composed under pressure.

Mohamed Hany - 6.5: He was decent defensively but offered little going forward. He stuck to his tasks well. However, we expected more attacking support from the fullback. A slightly reserved showing.

Rami Rabia - 7.0: Formed a strong partnership at the heart of the defense. He was physically strong and won his aerial duels. He played a key role in keeping the clean sheet. A very solid outing from the centre-back.

Mohamed Hamdi - 6.5: Much like Hany on the other flank, he was defensively sound. He didn't venture forward often. He kept his side of the pitch locked down. A disciplined if unspectacular performance.

Ahmed Eid - 6.5: Slotted into the defense and did his job without any fuss. He was part of a unit that gave nothing away. From our perspective, he was steady but didn't stand out. A decent shift.

Midfielders

Mahmoud Trezeguet - 6.0: He worked hard and showed some moments of skill. But he couldn't find the key to unlock the defense. His final ball was often lacking. He was eventually substituted after a frustrating game.

Mohamed Salah - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet game from the captain. He was closely marked and given no space to operate. We noticed his frustration growing as the match went on. A disappointing performance by his high standards.

Ahmed Kouka - 5.5: He struggled to make any impact on the game. He was largely anonymous in the midfield battle. It was no surprise to see him substituted. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Marwan Ateya - 5.5: He was energetic and broke up the play. However, a reckless challenge earned him a yellow card. His indiscipline let his performance down. He needs to add more composure to his game.

Forwards

Omar Marmoush - 5.0: A deeply unfortunate outing for the forward. His game was over after just nine minutes due to injury. He had no time to influence the proceedings. We couldn't really judge his performance fairly.

Substitutes

Osama Faisal - 5.5: Came on early for the injured Marmoush. He had plenty of time to make his mark but failed to do so. He looked isolated upfront and didn't test the keeper. A missed opportunity for him.

Mostafa Mohamed - 6.0: Brought on late to offer a different option. He didn't have enough time to change the game's outcome. He showed some physical presence but that was it.

Zizo - 6.0: Another late substitute. He tried to inject some creativity. But the game was already petering out into a draw. Not enough time to make an impact.

Mohanad Lasheen - 6.0: A late change in midfield. He helped see out the draw. A brief and uneventful cameo.

Hossam Abdelmaguid - N/A: Came on in the dying seconds of the match.

Manager

H. Hussein - 6.0: His team secured a clean sheet away from home. The defensive organization was a clear positive. However, his side looked toothless in attack. The substitutions failed to provide the needed spark.

Burkina Faso Player Ratings vs Egypt

Here are the Burkina Faso player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Hervé Koffi - 7.0: Just like his opposite number, he had a solid game. He made the saves he was expected to make. He was a confident presence behind his backline. A well-earned clean sheet for him.

Defenders

Steeve Yago - 7.0: A very strong defensive display. He was tough in the tackle and positionally aware. He gave the Egyptian attackers no room. What stood out to us was his commitment.

Issa Kaboré - 7.0: Patrolled the right flank with energy. He was excellent in his defensive duties. He also tried to support the attack when possible. A balanced and impressive performance from the fullback.

Edmond Tapsoba - 8.0: The man of the match, in our opinion. He was an absolute giant at the back. His reading of the game was outstanding. He was instrumental in shutting down Mohamed Salah. A truly commanding performance.

I. Dayo - 7.5: A brilliant partner for Tapsoba. He was aggressive and won his battles. He made numerous crucial interceptions. A warrior-like performance that deserves high praise.

Saïdou Simporé - 7.0: Completed a formidable defensive unit. He was disciplined and focused throughout the 90 minutes. He played his part in a massive team effort. A very good day's work.

Midfielders

Mohamed Zougrana - 5.5: He brought energy to the midfield but was too aggressive. A clumsy foul led to a yellow card. He was substituted in the second half. His lack of discipline was a problem.

Cyriaque Irié - 6.0: He showed some neat touches in midfield. He tried to link play between midfield and attack. However he struggled to create anything substantial. An okay performance but lacked impact.

Ibrahim Blati Touré - 6.5: The engine room of the team. He worked tirelessly for the entire match. He covered a lot of ground and broke up several attacks. A gritty and effective performance.

Forwards

Dango Ouattara - 6.0: He was a willing runner and looked threatening at times. His pace caused some problems. But his final product was disappointing. A frustrating game for the attacker.

Bertrand Traoré - 6.0: The captain carried the team's creative burden. He tried to make things happen but was well-marshalled. He couldn't find that moment of magic to win the game. A contained performance.

Substitutes

Josué Tiendrébéogo - 6.0: Came on to add fresh legs to the midfield. He did his job adequately without standing out.

Georgi Minoungou - 6.0: Introduced to provide an offensive spark. He couldn't find a way past the stubborn Egyptian defense.

Mohamed Konaté - N/A: A very late substitution with no time to influence play.

Manager

I. Balbone - 7.5: He will be delighted with this result. His tactical plan worked to perfection. His team was organized, disciplined, and neutralized Egypt's biggest threats. A tactical masterclass in defense.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Edmond Tapsoba