In the absence of giants Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon, Burkina Faso’s U-17 national team has won her first  African Under-17 championship with a 2-1 victory over hosts Rwanda in the final.

Zaniou Sana got the opening goal of the game in the 54th minute, pouncing on a poor back-pass from Rwandan captain Faustin Usengimana.

Rwanda equalised ten minutes later with a stunning 25-yard shot from Tibingana Mwesigye. But the Burkinabe restored their lead shortly afterwards through Kabore Abdoul Aziz.

Burkina Faso spent much of the second half with only 10 men, after the sending-off of Kanazoe Bassirou in the 59th minute. The final in Kigali was a repeat of the opening match of the tournament which the Junior Wasps won 2-1.

The Burkinabe have contested two U17 finals before, losing to Ghana in 1999 and then Nigeria two years later, while Rwanda were appearing in their first Caf tournament final.