Burkina Faso Under-23 coach Musa Sonogo says his side will not underestimate Zambia despite holding a 1-0 advantage ahead of Sunday’s Egypt 2027 Africa Cup of Nations U23 qualifier in Lusaka.
The Junior Chipolopolo face an uphill task at the National Heroes Stadium, where they must overturn the first-leg deficit to keep their hopes of reaching the next qualifying round alive.
Sonogo acknowledged his team’s advantage but expects a difficult encounter against a Zambian side backed by home supporters.
“Yes, we have an advantage, but we know it’s not going to be an easy match. We have prepared well and the team is ready for the game,” Sonogo said.
The Burkina Faso coach insisted his players were approaching the return fixture with the right mentality, stressing that they would not allow the first-leg result to create complacency.
“We are taking this match seriously. We are starting at 0-0 and we will fight to get the result that we want. We will not be under pressure,” he added.
Sonogo also acknowledged the passionate atmosphere expected in Lusaka but said his players had been mentally prepared for the challenge.
“We anticipate a tough atmosphere, but we have psyched our players. Zambia has an electric atmosphere, but we have mentally prepared the team,” he said.
The Egypt 2027 AFCON U23 tournament will double as the qualifying competition for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, with the two finalists securing Africa’s places at the football tournament.
The winner of the Zambia-Burkina Faso tie will face either Mauritania or DR Congo in the final qualifying round scheduled for March next year.
Sunday’s match kicks off at 15:00 at the National Heroes Stadium.
Ticket information
Tickets are available at Shoprite outlets through Computicket, with prices as follows:
- North and South Wings: K50
- East Wing: K100
- West Wing: K150
- VIP: K300
