Paul Put, the Belgian coach of Burkina Faso, expresses a mix of sadness over the loss in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final against Nigeria and pride in his team’s progress. Despite the 1-0 defeat, Put sees the competition as a platform for Burkina Faso to grow and gain valuable experience.
In his statement, Put highlights his pride in the players and the effort they put into the tournament. He recognizes the improvements made by the team, emphasizing that Burkina Faso did their best and that it’s an inherent part of football to accept the outcome. The narrow margin of defeat (1-0) and a positive second half are noted as encouraging aspects.
The coach acknowledges the progress within Burkina Faso’s football organization and federation, emphasizing that there is still a long way to go but expressing satisfaction in seeing the fruits of the work done over months. The experience gained in the CAN final and the players’ increased confidence are seen as valuable assets for the team’s future.
Looking ahead, Paul Put shifts the focus to the upcoming 2014 World Cup qualifiers. He sees the second-place finish in CAN as a source of confidence for Burkina Faso, recognizing that they have four crucial matches left to secure a spot in the next World Cup.
Overall, Put’s sentiments reflect a balanced perspective, acknowledging the challenges and setbacks but also finding pride and optimism in the progress made by Burkina Faso’s national team.
