Africa-Press – Uganda. All eyes were fixed on playmaker Jonathan Pitroipa and forward Aristide Bance the last time Burkina Faso and Uganda Cranes squared off in Ouagadougou in November 2019. The Stallions who face Uganda today at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende are significantly different even as skipper Charles Kabore seeks to earn his 100th cap.Beyond his experience, these are the player that will define coach Kamou Malo’s game plan that Abdallah Mubiru should limit.
Bertrand Traoré – Aston Villa
Bertrand, whose elder brother Alain is also part of the team, is perhaps the biggest player on this team. Many English football enthusiasts have witnessed his attacking exploits at Aston Villa and Chelsea previously. Playing as an inverted winger off the right, his left-foot earns him £63,000 (Shs315m) a week. At 24, he has played 56 matches and netted 11 goals internationally. He is key to their attacking play.
Lassina Traoré – Ajax
In his early 20s, his tender shoulders are burdened with the national team’s goal scoring concern. Blessed with speed and trickery, Lassina, who reportedly earns $4000 (Shs14.8m) a week at Dutch side Ajax will probe the Uganda defensive line.He has netted five times for Burkina Faso in 11 outings since making his debut in 2017.This campaign, the dreadlocked star has 10 goals and nine assists in the 25 games for Ajax.
Charles Kaboré – Dynamo Moscow
Since making his national team debut in 2006, Kaboré, along with Pitroipa and Bance have been the heartbeat of the Burkinabe team that even finished as 2013 Afcon runners-up. Now the country’s most capped player with 99 appearances and four goals, the defensive midfielder still has that powerful engine that earns him a living at Russian club FC Dynamo Moscow. The former Marseille man’s main task is to foil all the attacks.
Cyrille Bayala – AC Ajaccio
In the barren draw at home, Bayala was a thorn for Cranes wing backs little wonder left-back Joseph Ochaya and right-back Nicholas Wadada each yielded a yellow card in Ouagadougou.He was part of the Burkina Faso that lost to Uganda in the 2014 Africa Nations Championship. He has since moved to Europe Lens, Sochaux and now Ajaccio in the French Ligue 2.
Eric Traoré – Pyramids
Another lethal left-footed Traoré in Eric plays for Egyptian moneybags Pyramids. He vies for a starting berth with Cranes winger Abdul Lumala which throws more excitement in the mix ahead of the clash. Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
Charles Kabore, Dynamo Moscow
The long-serving captain has played 99 matches for his country and was part of the team that lost the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final to Nigeria.
