Burkina Faso v Benin: How to watch the CAN 2027 qualifier on TV

Burkina Faso host Benin at the Stade du 4 aout in Ouagadougou on Friday as both sides begin their CAN 2027 qualifying campaign.

The Group F fixture kicks off at 19:00 local time in Burkina Faso (GMT), 20:00 in Benin and 21:00 in France.

RTB in Burkina Faso and Benin TV could show the match, while Canal+ will broadcast it across French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. No broadcaster has been announced in France.

The match is the second Group F game of the opening round. Mauritania began the campaign with a 3-1 victory over the Central African Republic at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca on Thursday.

Both Burkina Faso and Benin reached the last 16 at the most recent Africa Cup of Nations. Burkina Faso were beaten 3-0 by Cote d’Ivoire, while Benin lost 3-1 after extra time to Egypt.

The two teams also met in a friendly in November, when the Etalons secured a 3-0 win over the Guepards.

Burkina Faso coach Amir Abdou has left out Bertrand Traore, who recently joined Wolverhampton and is still working to regain match fitness. Cyriaque Irie, of Fribourg, is also unavailable because he is taking his driving test.

Benin are seeking a response after suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat by Togo in June. Coach Gernot Rohr will be without attacking leader Steve Mounie, who is injured, while defender Olivier Verdon is suspended.

Rohr can, however, call on Junior Olaitan, who has made an impressive start to the season. The Besiktas player has provided six assists in 12 matches since the campaign began.

There is also an unusual link between the two teams’ schedules. Both are due to face Argentina in high-profile friendlies at the start of October.

Burkina Faso are scheduled to meet Argentina on 3 October, with Benin facing them on 6 October. The matches are being staged as part of a tribute to Lionel Messi for his international retirement.

Before those fixtures, though, Abdou and Rohr must focus on securing a positive start to qualification. With Mauritania already having taken three points, neither Burkina Faso nor Benin will want to fall behind in the opening round.