USFA opened the new Ligue 1 campaign with a commanding 3-0 win against Salitas on Saturday at the Stade de la Paix. The hosts ran through the visitors in the first half, building a lead they would never surrender. It was a statement performance from the top of the table, though the result barely scratches the surface of what happened on the pitch.
And here's the thing about that opening minute — M. Guel found the net so quickly it almost felt like a rehearsal. Salitas had barely set their shape before the ball was in the back of their net. The visitors tried to respond, but the pressure only mounted. By the thirty-third minute, B. Madougou had doubled the advantage, and the game was effectively over before half-time.
To be fair, USFA's control wasn't just about the scoreline. They moved the ball with purpose, finding space where Salitas' defence had none. The academy graduate marked his first start with a goal, which tells you something about the trust the coaching staff has placed in him. Salitas looked disjointed, their passes going astray, their shape collapsing under the weight of two goals in thirty minutes.
The third goal arrived at the seventy-third minute through I. Sawadogo, whose composure in front of goal has been a feature of USFA's recent results. Then, in stoppage time, another strike found the net at 90+8, though no scorer was recorded for that one. Four goals in total, three credited, the fourth a late flourish that left Salitas with little to show for their efforts.
By then, the table told its own story. USFA sit top with two wins from two, six points clear of anyone in the division. Salitas occupy fourteenth place with just one point from two games — a draw and a loss. The gap between them is not just numerical; it is structural, born of different approaches and different belief.
For USFA, this extends a run that includes back-to-back clean sheets and a reputation for closing out games. For Salitas, it is a reminder that Ligue 1 does not forgive hesitation. The old head settled them down after the break, but the damage was done. What remains is work to do.