In Burkina Faso, football has moved onto the government agenda after President Ibrahim Traoré said his administration would step into the national federation in pursuit of stronger results, while also defending the country’s under-23 players after their friendly against Argentina.
Key takeaways
- President Ibrahim Traoré said the Burkina Faso government will intervene in the football federation.
- The stated objective is to improve the national game’s competitive results.
- Traoré praised Burkina Faso’s under-23 squad following its match against Argentina.
- He said the young players had gone 24 hours without sleep before facing the world champions.
Government focus on the federation
Traoré’s remarks place the country’s football administration under direct political scrutiny, with the president making clear that better performances are expected from Burkina Faso’s teams.
He presented government intervention in the federation as a route towards improved outcomes, rather than limiting his comments to the result of one friendly or one age-group side.
Support for the under-23 side
Even as he called for changes around the federation, Traoré offered public support to the under-23 players who took on Argentina’s senior national team.
He pointed to the circumstances surrounding their preparation, saying: “They had been without sleep for 24 hours.” The comment underlined his belief that the young Burkinabè side should be judged with its difficult journey and limited rest in mind.
