Burkina Faso set to face Argentina after chaotic journey and squad changes

Burkina Faso will play Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, but the Etalons will arrive only hours before kick-off with a heavily altered squad.

After several days of uncertainty surrounding their travel arrangements, the Burkina Faso delegation finally left Casablanca on a special flight bound for Buenos Aires. They are due to face the world runners-up at the Monumental.

The team is expected to land at about 13:00-13:30 local time, with the match scheduled to begin at 21:00. Coach Amir Abdou and his players will therefore have fewer than eight hours in Argentina before facing the Albiceleste.

The difficult circumstances have been compounded by the absence of several established players.

The Burkinabe federation said a number of players from the A’ national team had been called up at short notice to complete the squad. Local media have also reported that U23 players could be involved, meaning an unfamiliar Burkina Faso side is likely to line up against Argentina.

The players may also be carrying significant fatigue into the match. Burkina Faso have just played two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, drawing 1-1 with Benin in Ouagadougou before beating the Central African Republic 1-0 in Casablanca.

That has been followed by a journey of almost 12 hours to South America, leaving the Etalons with far from ideal preparation for the fixture.

Travel problems threatened match

The situation had appeared even more uncertain in recent days. Burkina Faso had been expected to travel to Buenos Aires immediately after their game against the Central African Republic, but their departure was delayed several times.

The federation said the flight scheduled for 30 September had been cancelled without warning. On two occasions, the players packed their belongings and prepared to leave their hotel, only to be told to return.

The match was subsequently placed in serious doubt. Tensions reached the point where the players refused to take part in a training session requested by Amir Abdou.

The dispute also extends beyond the flight arrangements.

According to journalist Romain Molina, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) appointed a specialist company to organise several of Argentina’s matches against African national teams.

The arrangement reportedly covers the opposing delegation’s travel, accommodation and expenses, but does not include a participation fee or any share of the income generated by the match.

Revenue from ticket sales, television rights and sponsorship would therefore remain in Argentina. The same model was used for an earlier friendly against Mauritania and has attracted criticism, with Argentina able to turn its sporting prestige into a commercial opportunity against less highly ranked African sides that are keen to accept the chance to play them.

For Burkina Faso, that “prestige” has ultimately outweighed the difficulties. Amir Abdou had already warned his players that facing Argentina in Buenos Aires could be a once-in-a-career opportunity.

The question now is what condition the Etalons will be in when they finally reach the Monumental after such a troubled journey.