A seventh round match in the African World Cup qualifiers is set for Friday at the neutral venue “Estádio 24 de Setembro” in Bissau, where Djibouti will face Burkina Faso. Here’s a look at what to expect from this matchup.
Match Preview
Djibouti is having a tough qualifying campaign, earning only one point from six matches. The team has lost nearly all their games, conceding 20 goals while scoring just four, making it one of the worst records in the qualifiers. Their last match ended in a 1-6 defeat against Ethiopia, highlighting issues in both defense and attack.
Djibouti appears somewhat more confident at home, managing to secure a draw in their only home match. However, this is hardly a strong enough performance to consider them competitive. The team lacks quality, experience, and tactical flexibility, with matches often played under the opponents’ control. The coaching staff has struggled to improve the defense, as players frequently make costly errors.
Burkina Faso, in contrast, is performing well in the qualifiers and is currently placed second in their group. With three wins, two draws, and a single defeat, their goal difference of 13:7 illustrates a balanced approach in both offense and defense. Although they lost 1-2 at home to Madagascar in their last match, they are still seen as one of the favorites to advance from the group.
The attacking strength of Burkina Faso is noteworthy. The team excels at creating and converting scoring opportunities, making it difficult for lower-ranked opponents to compete. Despite having some mixed results away from home, their overall quality should give them an advantage over Djibouti. The coaching staff has a flexible tactical approach that should work well in this game.
Probable Lineups
- Djibouti: Mouktar, Mohamed, Moussa, Yabe, Farada, Dadzi, Osman, Aden, Abdillahi, Elabe, Akinbinu
- Burkina Faso: Sanou, Sané, Giro, Tologo, Moumouni, Shafik, Nikiema, Bagre, Ouattara, Sangaré, N. Ouattara
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Burkina Faso has won all three previous matches against Djibouti.
- Djibouti has conceded 20 goals in six qualifiers.
- In their last meeting, Burkina Faso defeated Djibouti 4-1.
Prediction
Burkina Faso clearly has the edge in terms of squad quality, performance level, and motivation. Djibouti displays little sign of improvement and often struggles against even mid-table teams. Given these factors and Burkina Faso’s strong motivation in the tournament, a confident victory is expected for Burkina Faso, likely by two or three goals.
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