Burkina Faso aim high as 2024 CHAN preparations kick off
Burkina Faso’s quest for TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) glory has begun in earnest with a focused national scouting programme aimed at unearthing top home-based talent ahead of their high-profile tournament opener against Tanzania on August 2 in Dar es Salaam.
The West African nation’s home-based national side — known as the Local Stallions — is not only tasked with competing in one of the most competitive groups of the competition, but also with symbolically opening the tournament against co-hosts Tanzania at the 60,000-capacity Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 20:00 local time.
Coach Issa Balboné has wasted no time in setting the tone for what promises to be a demanding build-up, launching the first phase of regional pre-selection camps in Bobo Dioulasso with 25 players drawn from the western zone of the country.
“This internship is vital,” Balboné told reporters.
“It allows us to assess the physical and technical level of the players after a tough league campaign. We also want to inject fresh energy by identifying new talent who can add value to our squad.”
The initiative forms part of a broader plan to leave no stone unturned in preparing a formidable team that can go toe-to-toe with Group B opponents Madagascar, Mauritania, Central African Republic, and host nation Tanzania.
Following the Bobo Dioulasso stint, the coaching team will head to Ouagadougou for another regional camp targeting players from the central zone.
According to the Burkinabe Football Federation (FBF), this two-tiered selection process will culminate in the final squad announcement ahead of the tournament’s kick-off.
Coach Balboné acknowledged the significance of the August 2 curtain-raiser and the pressure of being the team to launch the tournament on foreign soil.
“Facing the hosts in the first game is never easy. But it’s also an opportunity to set the tone and show what Burkina Faso football is made of,” he said.
The CHAN tournament, reserved exclusively for players active in domestic leagues, offers a rare continental stage for local footballers to shine.
With Burkina Faso’s top stars absent from recent major tournaments, the Local Stallions see this as their moment to reignite national pride.
This year’s edition was originally scheduled for February but was rescheduled to August 2–30, 2025, across three East African nations: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The final will be played at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
Burkina Faso’s preparation blueprint signals clear intent — an effort to combine grit, grassroots scouting, and national ambition in pursuit of a deep run in a tournament where every match carries weight, and every performance counts.