Burkina Faso U17 begin WAFU B campaign against Benin

Burkina Faso’s U17 team will begin their WAFU B qualifying campaign against Benin on Saturday, with coach Mamadou Zongo hoping to guide the hosts to the title on home soil.

The Stallions will face the Cheetahs at 15:00 at the Stade du 4-Août in Ouagadougou, knowing that a positive result would give them an important start in the competition.

Playing in front of their home supporters, Burkina Faso will be looking to make full use of home advantage as they begin their quest for regional honours.

Zongo, popularly known as Bebeto, and his players have set their sights on reaching the final before turning their attention to winning the trophy. Their immediate priority, however, is to overcome Benin and put themselves in a strong position at the start of the tournament.

The opening fixture presents an early test for the young Stallions, who will be expected to deliver a strong performance in front of their own fans.

Burkina Faso target strong start against Benin

The hosts will be eager to establish themselves early in the competition, with victory in their opening match offering an ideal platform for the remainder of their campaign.

Benin, known as the Cheetahs at youth level, stand in their way as both sides prepare to begin their pursuit of success in the WAFU Zone B tournament.

For Burkina Faso, the occasion carries added importance because of the opportunity to compete for the trophy in front of their home crowd. The team will hope the support of their fans can help them produce the performance needed to secure all three points.

However, the Stallions will need to turn their ambitions into results on the pitch. A strong start against Benin would provide encouragement as they seek to progress through the competition and reach the final.

Home advantage could prove important

Burkina Faso will enter the tournament with the added responsibility of performing before their own supporters. The team’s ambitions extend beyond simply making a good impression, with the ultimate objective being to win the title on home soil.

Coach Zongo and his squad will therefore be focused on beginning their campaign with a victory before considering the challenges that lie ahead.

The clash against Benin is the first step towards that goal, and the hosts will be determined to avoid an early setback.

With a place in the final among their initial targets, the Stallions know that a successful opening result could provide valuable momentum. Their performance on Saturday will offer the first indication of how well they can handle the expectations surrounding their home tournament.

Burkina Faso will now look to deliver in Ouagadougou and give their supporters reason to believe that the U17 side can challenge for the WAFU B crown.