U-17 AFCON: Burkina Faso coach Traore unveils plans for Golden Eaglets

Burkina Faso coach Brahima Traore has revealed that he has told his players to play together as a team when they meet Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Golden Eaglets will be looking to pip Burkina to a semifinal spot at the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.

Nigeria are the slight favourites on paper, but with Burkina Faso’s victory over defending champions Cameroon in the group stage, the Golden Eaglets would have to present their best game.

Asides from a spot in the semifinals, the winner of the tie would get an automatic spot in the World Cup that will hold later this year.

Ahead of the game, Burkina Faso boss Traore has revealed that he would set up his team to play together, rather than playing individual football.

“We go into the match with calmness but the enthusiasm to do well and achieve qualification to the World Cup,” Traore told CAF Media.

“But I have insisted with the players that we have to play together as a team and not individually. We want to achieve collectively as a team.

“Both teams have changed and most of the players who played then are not in the team. It will be a different match and definitely tougher.”

The last time both teams met was at the WAFU Zone B qualification tournament, and Nigeria won 2-1. Coach Nduka Ugbade would hope that his lads can defeat Burkina Faso again and seal the ticket to the World Cup to the detriment of the Burkina Faso side.