大象传媒

Saido Berahino: Stoke City striker scores on Burundi debut

  • Published
Saido BerahinoImage source, Reuters
Image caption,

Berahino's goal against Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup was his first goal for the club since signing for 拢12m in January 2017

After ending his 913-day wait for a goal, Stoke City striker Saido Berahino just cannot stop scoring.

Eleven days on from lifting the two-and-a-half-year burden from his shoulders, the former England Under-21 international has netted again.

This time, however, on his debut for East African nation Burundi in a 1-1 draw with Gabon.

Berahino had been cleared to play for his country of birth as Burundi continued their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

And the 25-year-old gave his side the lead on 40 minutes against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Gabon - though the Arsenal forward earned a point for his nation with 14 minutes remaining.

Burundi now top Group C, after an opening 3-0 victory over South Sudan, as the former West Brom striker aims to reach his first major international tournament.

Berahino was granted political asylum after arriving in the UK from war-torn Burundi as a 10-year-old, and went on to register 47 England caps from under-16 to under-21 level.

But he opted for an international switch after being left frustrated by a lack of opportunities to play for England - only making the bench in 2014 after ex-England manager Roy Hodgson called-up the then-21-year-old for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia.

Berahino's Burundi continue their campaign against Mali on 10 October.