After weeks of unrest in the West African country, the military seized power on January 24 – a day after the national team fought its way into the quarter-finals. After the takeover, the putschists led by junta leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba announced that the constitution was no longer in force, and that the government and parliament had been dissolved.
Provide a distraction
Among other things, a delegation from the United Nations is currently in the capital Ouagadougou for talks. A meeting with the deposed President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who has been under house arrest since the change of power, is said to have taken place. Meanwhile, in the face of pressure from abroad, the military has pledged to return to constitutional order.
The national team hopes to be able to provide distraction with their performances. National coach Malo had already dedicated the semi-finals to the people at home. Finally, the people do “hard times” through, he emphasized: “I say that our team is a reflection of our people, we will stand, whatever the cost.”
Surprising victory against Tunisia
Burkina Faso lost 2-1 to hosts Cameroon at the start of the Africa Cup of Nations, but then qualified for the round of 16 after beating the Cape Verde Islands (1-0) and drawing against Ethiopia (1-1). There, the team beat Gabon 7-6 on penalties and then celebrated a surprising 1-0 victory over Tunisia in the quarter-finals.
Leverkusen’s Tapsoba there
The star of the team is Bertrand Traore from Aston Villa, with Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba from the Bundesliga. The country’s greatest success is a second place at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013. Burkina Faso has never taken part in a World Cup. Cameroon and Egypt will face off in the second semi-final.