Burkina Faso hoping to sneak into quarterfinals

Burkina Faso hoping to sneak into quarterfinals
Elisee Sou of Burkina Faso is challenged by Vladimir Etson Va of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Burkina Faso at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 16 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Jan 22, 2018. 10:30

Burkina Faso will hope to sneak into the quarterfinals of the 2018 African Nations Championship when they face Cameroon in their final Group D match on Wednesday night. The clash is scheduled for Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangiers, kick-off at 21h00 CAT.

The Stallions are currently placed third on the log with just one point from their opening two matches, having held Angola 0-0 before suffering a 2-0 loss to Congo over the weekend.

To have any chance of reaching the next round, the Burkinabe must defeat Cameroon and hope that Angola lose to Congo in the other Group D match which be played simultaneously in Agadir.

This would see them level with the Sable Antelopes on four points, with the teams also level on head-to-heads, leaving it up to goal difference as the tie-breaker.

“I'm proud of my players, they played better than in the first game. They made a big first half,” said Burkina Faso coach Idrissa Traore in the wake of the weekend loss to Congo.

He added, “I do not regret anything, this group has a future both collectively and individually. We are on a mission and we will fight until the end of the competition.”

At least the Stallions still have a chance in the competition, something Cameroon have been shorn of following back-to-back losses. Coach Rigobert Song was left disappointed by their elimination.

“We made some mistakes during the match and that's normal because the players are still learning,” Song said after their weekend defeat to Angola.

“I am happy with the performance of the players who have given their maximum.

“I will continue to work with them to make progress. On the other hand, I am disappointed by the cruel end.

“We're eliminated from the tournament and it's a huge disappointment.”






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