UEFA Champions League 2024/25: Burkinabe stars gear up for group stage action
Four Burkinabe footballers are set to make their mark on the European stage this season, following the highly anticipated draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League group stage. The tournament promises to be a thrilling showcase of elite football, and the presence of Edmond Tapsoba, Nasser Djiga, Issa Kaboré, and Lassina Traoré among Europe’s elite adds an exciting dynamic for fans from Burkina Faso.
Edmond Tapsoba’s Bayer Leverkusen finds itself in a challenging group with some of Europe’s top clubs.
The German side will be facing football giants such as Inter Milan and Liverpool, both of whom are renowned for their history and success in European competitions.
Alongside them are Atlético Madrid, FC Salzburg, AC Milan, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Sparta Prague, and Brest Stadium, making this one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
⭐️ Zurück auf der großen Bühne! Und das sind unsere Gegner.#UCLDraw | #aCROSSeurope | #Werkself pic.twitter.com/vjj4hZa7GN
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) August 29, 2024
Tapsoba, a key defender for Leverkusen, will be pivotal as his team looks to navigate this formidable lineup of opponents.
His strong defensive skills will be put to the test against some of the best strikers in Europe, with fixtures against Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Atlético’s Antoine Griezmann sure to be among the highlights.
Leverkusen’s campaign will require a solid defense, and Tapsoba is expected to play a crucial role in their efforts to advance to the knockout stages.
Nasser Djiga, the Burkinabe centre-back playing for Red Star Belgrade, also faces a tough road ahead.
His Serbian club has been drawn into a group that includes heavyweights such as FC Barcelona and AC Milan.
🚨 LES ADVERSAIRES DE L’ÉTOILE ROUGE EN LIGUE DES CHAMPIONS :
✈️ INTER 🇮🇹
🏡 FC BARCELONA 🇪🇦
🏡 BENFICA 🇵🇹
✈️ AC MILAN 🇮🇹
🏡 PSV 🇳🇱
✈️ YOUNG BOYS 🇨🇭
🏡 STUTTGART 🇩🇪
✈️ AS MONACO 🇨🇵#UCLdraw #UCL— Etoile Rouge Belgrade FR (@FranceZvezda) August 29, 2024
The group also features other strong clubs, including PSV Eindhoven, Young Boys, Stuttgart, and AS Monaco.
For Djiga, this will be an invaluable opportunity to gain experience at the highest level of European football.
His defensive prowess will be essential as Red Star Belgrade attempts to hold its ground against some of the continent’s most formidable attacks, particularly when they meet a star-studded Barcelona side led by players like Robert Lewandowski and Pedri.
Issa Kaboré, on loan at Benfica Lisbon, finds himself in an intriguing group where he will face his fellow countryman Nasser Djiga during the group stages.
The Burkinabe right-back will encounter fierce competition from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Atlético Madrid.
Kaboré’s performances will be closely watched, particularly when Benfica faces Barcelona and Bayern Munich, two clubs that are perennial contenders for the Champions League title.
The group also includes Juventus, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Bologna, Monaco, and Red Star Belgrade.
With the clash against Nasser Djiga on the horizon, the contest between Benfica and Red Star Belgrade will undoubtedly carry added significance for Burkinabe fans.
Burkina Faso’s Lassina Traoré will take on the responsibility of leading Shakhtar Donetsk’s attack in this year’s Champions League.
✨ Os nossos jogos na 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮 da @ChampionsLeague! #UCL pic.twitter.com/IB94loNud1
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) August 29, 2024
Traoré’s group includes formidable opposition, though specifics on the exact draw for Shakhtar were not provided in this report.
However, Traoré’s abilities as a forward and his European experience position him as a key player for the Ukrainian club, who will be relying on his goalscoring prowess to make an impact.
As these four players prepare to represent Burkina Faso in the prestigious UEFA Champions League, their journeys will be followed closely by fans eager to see them succeed on European football’s biggest stage.
The competition will provide them with the chance to shine against some of the best teams and players in the world, and their performances could further elevate their careers while making their country proud.
🙌 Новий сезон Ліги чемпіонів – новий формат турніру ⭐️
🤩 Представляємо суперників «Шахтаря» в основному етапі Ліги чемпіонів сезону-2024/25 🔥
Ваші враження від жеребкування @ChampionsLeague?#Shakhtar #UCLdraw #UCL pic.twitter.com/iE1AIxH4v8
— ⚒FC SHAKHTAR DONETSK (@FCShakhtar) August 29, 2024
