Scaloni praises Burkina Faso’s commitment after Argentina’s 7-0 friendly win

Lionel Scaloni praised Burkina Faso for making the journey to Argentina despite a series of logistical problems, after his side secured a 7-0 victory at the Monumental on Saturday.

The Burkina Faso squad arrived in Buenos Aires only five hours before kick-off, with their team made up largely of under-23 players after several senior figures were unable to travel. The circumstances surrounding the fixture drew as much attention as the one-sided result.

Argentina were five goals ahead before half-time. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the fourth minute, before an own goal from Moumouni Diallo eight minutes later. Gianluca Prestianni made it 3-0 in the 12th minute, with Nico Paz and Julian Alvarez adding further goals in the 35th and 36th minutes.

Franco Mastantuono scored Argentina’s sixth in the 57th minute, while Giuliano Simeone completed the scoring in the third minute of added time.

Burkina Faso had endured several difficult days in Morocco after their original flight was cancelled. A number of established players ultimately did not make the trip, forcing the emergency inclusion of under-23 players to complete the squad.

The delegation left Casablanca and spent 11 hours and 42 minutes in the air before landing at Ezeiza at 15:43. The match kicked off at 21:00, leaving the players with little time to recover after airport formalities, a stop at their hotel and the journey to the Monumental.

Scaloni said the visitors’ decision to fulfil the fixture deserved recognition.

“We must thank Burkina Faso for the efforts they made. They honour football. We are grateful that they were able to make the trip. They could have stayed at home and the match would have been cancelled. What they did is truly remarkable,” said the Argentina manager.

He also acknowledged after the game that, when possible, he would rather Argentina face stronger opposition.

The organisation of the friendlies had already attracted criticism in Argentina, with La Nacion questioning the arrangements and the conditions offered to the African teams before the match took place.

Information first reported by Faso Sports and later carried by several Argentine media outlets claimed that the AFA covered their African opponents’ travel, accommodation and expenses, but did not pay an appearance fee or give them a share of the match revenue. The arrangement was reportedly intended to reduce costs while allowing the Argentine federation to benefit commercially from the prestige of the Albiceleste.

Tickets for the friendlies against Burkina Faso and Benin were sold for between 90,000 and 480,000 Argentine pesos at the Monumental.

The circumstances made it difficult to draw meaningful sporting conclusions from the 7-0 scoreline. Argentine media also questioned the value of Argentina’s World Cup runners-up facing a hastily assembled, youthful side that had stepped off a plane only hours before kick-off.

Burkina Faso left with Scaloni’s public respect, although the conditions made it extremely difficult for the team to compete with Argentina.