The senior national team of Burkina Faso, popularly known as ‘The Stallions’ qualified to the AFCON 2021 with a game to spare when they managed a goalless draw against the Cranes of Uganda in March 2021.
The West African nation first gained qualification in 1978 as Upper Volta before changing its name to Burkina Faso. After the new development, they failed to be represented in the six subsequent editions of the AFCON tournament. However, they made it in 1996 when South Africa hosted the competition and since then have been absent on only three occasions.
Apart from a few moments where the Burkinabe made it to the last four of the tournaments, they have literally been mere participants anytime they were involved. They were very close to clinching the title for the first time but lost to a hungrier Nigerian side in the 2013 final. They came closer again four years later but had to settle for third place as the Pharaohs of Egypt proved to be stronger in the Semi Final.
The only other time Burkina Faso had been a threat to other tournament’s favorites was in 1998 when they hosted and finished fourth. In that tournament, the stallions beat Guinea and Algeria in the group stages to qualify to the quarter finals where they scored Tunisia to proceed to the semis. Unfortunately, they met another but a better North African team in Egypt and lost to them by 2-0.
An interesting fact about the Burkina Faso national team is the fact that they have always made it to the semi final each time they qualify from the group stage. Thus, they have won all their three quarter finals games in the tournament. Meanwhile, those achievements were chalked at a time when only sixteen teams participated. If the semifinal is any team’s target, they will now have to win two knockout games. i.e. round of 16 and quarter finals following the expansion to 24 teams.
In the absence of names like Aristide Bance, Jonathan Pitroipa and Charles Kabore whose exploits got the team to be competitive, there are some other men that could maintain the threat tag of Burkina Faso. There is Bertrand Traore who plays active football for Aston Villa in the English Premier League. Abdoul Tapsoba is another prolific youngster who could be dangerous upfront. The Standard Liege forward has scored five goals in his seven appearances for Burkina Faso.
The Stallions will lock horns with Cameroon, Cape Verde and Ethiopia in the group stages of the African Cup of Nations.
Appearances so far : 11
Best Results: Runners-up in 2013
Worst performance: Group stage(1978, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2015)
Head Coach : Kamou Malo
Most capped player: Charles Kabore(102 appearances)
Captain: Charles Kabore
Top scorer: Moumoni Dagano (34 goals in 83 appearances)
Player to watch: Bertrand Traore
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Frank Appiah
