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As CHAN 2024
kicks off this weekend, Burkina Faso’s national team looks to rewrite history
under the guidance of head coach Issa Balboné, with the opening match set to
test their resolve against the hosts.
Zig Diaries Sports
Date: Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Time: 13:30 WAT
Location: Nouakchott, Mauritania
Burkina Faso will open the CHAN 2024 tournament on 2 August against host nation Tanzania, seeking their first major breakthrough in the competition’s history.
Burkina Faso head coach Issa Balboné has declared his team "ready to fight" as the Stallions gear up to face Tanzania in the opening match of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, scheduled to run from 2–30 August across Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
The
Group B clash against host nation Tanzania on Saturday will be the tournament
curtain-raiser, placing immediate spotlight on the Burkinabe squad, who are
determined to shake off past underwhelming CHAN campaigns.
“This
is not just a tournament — it’s a battle for national pride,” said Balboné in
an exclusive interview with CAFOnline.com.
“We’re fully aware of our history and ready to fight for every moment.”
The
Stallions, who have never won CHAN despite consistent participation, are
grouped alongside Mauritania, Madagascar, Tanzania,
and the Central African Republic. The 2024
edition comes on the heels of a rigorous training camp in Morocco, where
Burkina Faso split their two friendlies with the hosts — a 1–0 loss followed by
a morale-boosting 2–1 win.
Balboné,
who assumed his role in April 2024, said the Moroccan camp helped fine-tune the
team’s tactical identity. “Our goal was to sharpen our discipline and
structure, and I’m confident we’ve built the chemistry needed to compete at the
highest level.”
Reflecting
on their past CHAN disappointments, Balboné attributed Burkina Faso’s struggles
to “bad luck,” but emphasized that this squad is different. “The players are
hungry, and we’ve selected those who are fully ready to give everything for the
flag.”
Asked
about the multi-host format, Balboné said the only concern might be differences
in altitude but insisted the squad is familiar with the region. “CHAN remains a
chance to put our football on the map. For our players, it’s a springboard —
for me as coach, it’s an opportunity to make a mark.”
Burkina
Faso’s supporters are being called upon to rally behind the team as they aim to
reach the knockout stage for the first time in over a decade.
🏷️ Tags: African Football, CHAN 2024, ZigSports, Burkina Faso, Issa Balboné, Tanzania 2025
#CHAN2024
#BurkinaFaso #ZigSports #AfricanFootball #Balbone #Stallions #CAF
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