Photo Credit: Football Association of Malawi
Burkina Faso coach Brama Traoré has attributed the Stallions’ 3-0 loss to Malawi’s Flames on Monday afternoon in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier to the absence of key players. Traoré said this in a post-match interview of the Group L match at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe where the hosts beat the visitors for the first time in nine attempts across all competitions.
“It was a difficult match for us because the last time they [the Flames] played in Bamako, some of their players were absent and now they featured them and that is why this happened. On our part, ten of our players were absent. They have some injuries and that is why they are not here,” he said through an interpreter.
Traore attributed the defeat to the unavailability of players such as centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, wing-back Issa Kaboré and midfielder Blati Touré. The trio suffered the injuries during the Stallions’ 1-0 loss to the qualified Senegal on Friday.
“It is not like they failed to play it was just the absence of these players that affected us. We congratulate Malawi for the win. They are a very good team. We saw that tonight and if they continue, they may do big things,” he added.
Malawi won the game after Gabadinho Mhango opened the scoring in the 28th minute before his strike partner Richard Mbulu and midfielder Lloyd Aaron struck in the 58nd and 62th minute to settle the contest in favour of the hosts.
The win restored the pride of the Flames who finished bottom of the group with four points, six points behind the already qualified Stallions. Group leaders Senegal (13 points) were the first to book a ticket to the AFCON finals.
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