Togo saw off Burundi 1-0 in their opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on 25 September 2026, the result decided by Dermane Karim's 17th-minute opener. And here's the thing about matches like this — you don't need a flood of chances, just the right one at the right moment. The hosts stretched the back line with possession but Burundi's goalkeeper had his work cut out for him.
Karim's goal came before the half-hour mark, and by then the visitors had already made their first change, bringing on S. Ntibazonkiza on the hour. The match settled into a pattern you see often enough: Togo controlling territory, Burundi looking to hit on the break. Kevin Boma picked up a yellow card in the 56th minute, the first of two bookings for the hosts.
What struck me watching from the stands was how Burundi managed five shots on target despite losing. To be fair, they worked the ball into dangerous areas — 11 shots inside the penalty area compared to Togo's eight — but couldn't find the net. The visitors saw the game out despite the deficit, bringing on Abdoul Karim Mpawenimana and Mokono Elie Eldhino in the 76th minute as the pressure mounted.
The statistics tell a story of efficiency over volume. Togo completed 251 passes from 321 attempts, while the away side managed 234 from 312. By then you realise shots aren't everything — Togo's three on target yielded the winner, whereas Burundi's five off target told you where the chances went begging. Christophe Nduwarugira and Zuberu Sharani both received yellow cards for the visitors, while Youssouf Ndayishimiye was booked late on.
This result puts the hosts in a stronger position after their recent run — five wins and draws in their last five matches, including that emphatic 5-1 away victory over Benin. Burundi's form hasn't matched, with heavy defeats to Morocco and mixed results elsewhere. The goal difference matters less than the fact that Togo now have three points from their opening qualifier, while the visitors will need to regroup quickly.
