Former Burkina Faso captain Charles Kabore has urged the Étalons to show courage, discipline and attacking ambition in their upcoming match against Mauritania.
The former Olympique de Marseille midfielder believes Burkina Faso must take the initiative at home and avoid underestimating opponents who have improved significantly in recent years.
“You really have to take Mauritania seriously these days. They’ve participated in at least two or three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. That shows that some real work has been put in,” Kabore told Africafoot.
The former international, now a sports ambassador for Burkina Faso, also warned against allowing Mauritania to control the game, highlighting their pace and quality across the pitch.
“We need to be bold, since we’re playing at home, and go on the attack. We can’t just sit back and watch them,” he said.
Kabore also recalled Mauritania’s elimination of Burkina Faso during the 2019 AFCON qualifying campaign, insisting the Étalons must demonstrate greater determination this time.
“We must believe in our qualities, show personality in our play, and truly put our hearts into the effort,” he added.
The former captain is targeting victory rather than a particular scoreline, saying: “Whether it’s 1-0, 3-0 or 5-0, the most important thing is securing the three points.”
