Burkina Faso U-17 head coach, Brahima Traore said his team approached the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations third-place match against Mali like it was a final and he is happy they won 2-1.
The Burkinabes led 2-0 courtesy of goals from Cheick Camara and Appolinaire Bougma before Ibrahim Diarra pulled one back for Mali.
The victory marked the second time Burkina Faso claimed a bronze medal at the U-17 AFCON having done so at the 2009 edition in Algeria.
“When we came to play this game, we told ourselves that this was our final and we must not leave empty-handed. We wanted to get something for ourselves and also make the people of Burkina Faso happy and we were rewarded for our efforts,” Traore said after the game.
“I told the players that they needed to do everything to ensure we didn’t concede first. We also needed to ensure they don’t coordinate their attack well because they are a team that does that very well. In the second half, we knew there would be spaces because they were coming in for the equalizer and we got the second goal to settle the nerves.”
Mali coach, Soumaila Coulibaly, meanwhile, stated he had no regrets altering his squad for the game, stressing it was important to assess his options ahead of the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
“I do not regret rotating my squad. I intended to change a lot because I have a competitive squad. Other players needed to play too so I can decide which squad I will take to the World Cup,” Coulibaly said.
“They held on very well in the first half and we only conceded from a penalty. We know that we have a very strong team with good potential and everyone gave their best.
“If we can score early, it can make things easier for us. Yes, we dominate the games, but football is about scoring. We will try to improve this ahead of our next assignments.”
It is the second time Mali have finished fourth at the U-17 AFCON after the maiden edition of the tournament on home soil in 1995.
