Zanzibar stop Burkina Faso to win Mapinduzi Cup

Hosts Zanzibar are the winners of the Mapinduzi Cup 20225.

The Zanzibar Heroes defeated Burkina Faso 2-1 in the final of the tournament played on Monday night at the Gombani Stadium in Pemba.

Zanzibar went into the match with a point to prove as the West African team has defeated them 1-0 in the initial stages of the tournament.

Ibrahim Hamad Hilika gave the home side the lead four minutes from the interval as the local fans burst into celebration.

After the interval Burkina Faso continued to press before Aboubacar Traroe leveled matters after 70 minutes. As the referee prepared to blow the final whistle Hassan Ali Cheda

Made it 2-1 after he brilliantly curled in a shot that the Burkina Faso goalkeeper failed to stop.

Feisal Salum, the Zanzibar Heroes captain said they are very happy to win the Mapinduzi Cup as a national team. “It has been a good tournament and we thank the fans for all the support,” added the captain.

The final was graced by the President of Zanzibar and the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Hussein Mwinyi.

This was the first time that the tournament was played between national teams and not teams from around the region like has previously been the case. The tournament attracted Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya and Burkina Faso.