The captain of the Etalons du Burkina Faso promised Thursday in Praia during the first session of the team's training, a victory against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde which they meet on Sunday (3 p.m. local and 4 p.m. UT) in a high-end match, counting for the 5th day of the CAN 2023 qualifiers.
The Stallions group reassured that they did not come to Praia to dance the “Morna” (in popular Cape Verdean), “we come with a different approach to this match because we qualified after 4 days. We are a little quieter in the head. But as a competitor, we are aware that we come to represent all of Burkina Faso here. We're not just going to come on vacation here. We come to look for a result to consolidate our position as leader. We are professionals and we come to play and win,” promised team captain Bertrand Traoré.
Coach Hubert Velud and his staff quickly set to work to achieve the objectives in the Cape Verdean capital. He mentions that this first team training is very important because it is “under the conditions of the match. It's a synthetic and you have to adapt to all that. These are excellent preparation conditions. We worked on a system in Ouagadougou and today we are going to prepare another. At the end of the week we will choose in which system we will play.
The relief of Praia is hilly and could be a disadvantage for the Stallions: the match stadium is at altitude and therefore windier. But that could be settled with the three days of acclimatization and the last training session which will take place at the match stadium.
An open match in perspective
The training of the day was particularly intense
While the Stallions play for the leadership of Group B, the Blue Sharks play their qualification. This looks like an unclosed match. The French technician said that “we will attack the match to try to score a goal to cause them problems. They are forced to surrender because they need a victory. But I can't see us closing the game. We're going to play forward because we have the team for it. So it could be a very open game”.
But caution is in order because a lot of things have evolved in this Sharks team who have revenge to take with the Stallions who beat them in these playoffs and during CAN 2021.
And for the Velud “we analyzed well and they are a good team. They drew against Morocco (recent 4th in the world football championship) and that's no coincidence”. Will he only rely on his executives for the victory or will he make a turnover? The French technician replied that “we are going to have a small turnover but it will be a natural turnover because there were a lot of absentees in the team and it will also allow us to see other players”.
Captain Bertrand mentioned that in these kinds of matches “the most difficult thing is the agreement, the motivation, the desire that we will put into it. We will try to motivate each other as it should.
The young Mahamady Alex Bangré from Quevilly Rouen Métropole (France), very well integrated into the group, is delighted to play for his country, Burkina Faso. “It is always a pride and an honor. So I'm very happy every time I come back, always in a group that lives well. We always come with the same desire. It's a golden group with good people. I feel very comfortable with everyone. We want to win every game and secure first place. I always prepare for matches in the same way, whether I am a starter or a substitute. It's important to always wet the jersey for the country,” he said.
The Stallions group for today's practice has been split into two. A group that seems to be the typical team made up of Hervé Koffi (if he is recovering from his injury or Kylian Nikiéma), Edmond Tapsoba, Issoufou Dayo, Steeve Yago and Cédric Badolo (or Cheich Ouédraogo) in defense. In the middle Adama Guira, Blati Touré and Gustavo Sangaré. In attack we find Bertrand Traoré, Fessal Tapsoba and Dango Ouattara. The other group is on the lookout to compensate for absences.
The first training session took place in a secondary field in Praia, Cape Verde. The whole group was there and very motivated. Hervé Koffi (tip of the bone at the wrist), Sacha Bancé (dehydrated) and Trova Boni (sprained foot) did not take part in training but additional examinations this Friday may or may not confirm their unavailability for the game according to team doctor Alain Traoré.
The Stallions arrived in Praia on Wednesday around 8:30 p.m. and lingered a bit at the airport to complete the formalities. A wait of around an hour which looked a bit like provocation. Fortunately, the staff and all the players were able to manage these moments of tension.
The Stallions will face the Sharks on Sunday at 3 p.m. (local) and 4 p.m. GMT.
Source: Burkina Information Agency