Burkina Faso coach Issa Balbone - Photo credit: Ministere des Sports.
Burkina Faso managed to qualify for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in place of Ivory Coast. The game between the two nations ended 4-2 in a penalty shootouts after the Stallions won the tie 2-0 reversing the first leg defeat in Abidjan.
Burkina Faso coach Issa Balbone told reporters that taking the upper hand in midfield changed fortune for them. “Our knowledge of the Ivorians was limited. After the first leg we studied the Ivorian team. Our plan worked out well. So the plan was to be better in the midfield. Our players followed and executed that well.”
The first leg result gave Ivory Coast the superiority before the encounter in Bamako. Nonetheless Balbone stated his charges defied the odds to reach the 2024 CHAN. The coach used a line from the national anthem of Burkina Faso to motivate his players before the game.
“If you know our national anthem, there is a part that says, ‘the frustrations, the successes, the sweat, the blood have fortified our courageous people’. This is the only sentence I said to my players in the locker room."
Ivory Coast A side coach Romaric on his part admitted his charges shortcomings and stated he takes full responsibility for the defeat. Balbone will become the fourth Burkinabe to lead his team in the CHAN tournament.
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