( CNN ) -- Ten-man Burkina Faso boosted their chances of reaching the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations Friday with a 4-0 trouncing of Ethiopia in Mbombela . The superb victory , owing much to two-goal Alain Traore , left them in pole position in Group C after holders Zambia and Nigeria drew 1-1 in the early kick off in Rustenburg . Burkina Faso were leading 1-0 through a first half Traore strike when they had goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama sent off in the second half for handling the ball outside his area . But Traore , who plays for Lorient in the French League , struck minutes later with a blistering shot from just outside the area to all but sink Ethiopia 's chances of getting back into the match with a man advantage . He had also scored Burkina Faso 's last-gasp equalizer against Nigeria in the opening match of the tournament in South Africa . Traore then set up Djakaridja Kone for the third as the Ethiopia defense opened up again . Jonathan Pitroipa rounded off the win with the fourth in stoppage time to make it a miserable evening for the Ethiopian fans who had made up the majority of a sizable crowd in the stadium . It left Burkina Faso with four points from two games , with Zambia and Nigeria on two apiece . Ethiopia have just one point . Zambia , who won last year 's championship , looked headed for the exit door when they trailed Nigeria late into their game . But they were awarded a controversial penalty , which was converted with considerable aplomb by Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene , lofting his effort into the roof of the net . Mweene had been at the receiving end of a first half spot kick awarded to Nigeria , but watched on as Chelsea 's Jon-Obi Mikel scuffed a feeble effort wide of the post . Henri Richard 's Zambia were encouraged by the miss , but it was Nigeria who struck first through Emmanuel Emenike in the 57th minute . It looked enough to seal through crucial points until Davies Nkausu tangled with Ahmed Musa in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot . Nigeria goalkeeper and captain Victor Enyeama was disgusted by the award and was well beaten by his counterpart , who regularly takes penalties South Africa Premier League club Free State Stars . `` That was one of the worst calls I 've seen in the history of football , '' he told AFP . The group will be decided next Tuesday with Burkina Faso taking on Zambia in Mbombela , while Ethiopia face Nigeria in Rustenburg .
Burkina Faso beat Ethiopia 4-0 in Group C match at Africa Cup of Nations . Alain Traore scores twice in commanding performance . Burkina Faso goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama sent off in the second half . Holders Zambia and Nigeria drew 1-1 in earlier match .