TheNewsGuru

Tag: Burkina Faso

  • Niger coup: Fani-Kayode warns Mali, Burkina Faso

    Niger coup: Fani-Kayode warns Mali, Burkina Faso

    Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned African countries, including Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, not to lightly wake Nigeria’s sleeping sword, advising them that they should think twice before threatening Nigeria with war.

    Fani-Kayode said he frowns at videos of Nigerien, Burkinabe and Malian soldiers marching and chanting war songs against Nigeria while being applauded and egged on by ecstatic French-speaking crowds who reigned curses on the nation’s president.

    In a lengthy post on his Twitter handle on Sunday, Fani-Kayode warned, “Before provoking our nation into armed conflict and threatening us with war our traducers should know we are a peace-loving people who are kind, compassionate, hard-working and accommodating.”

    He also boasted that the size of the economy and GDP of all the countries in Africa ruled by military dictators put together, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sudan, Guinea and the Niger Republic are nowhere near that of Lagos State alone.

    “They forget that we are a country that has almost singlehandedly confronted and contained the two most deadly terrorist organisations and armies in the world, ISWAP and Boko Haram, and a separatist movement known as IPOB with its own fledgling terrorist army known as the ESN and yet we still stand undeterred and strong.

    “Such is the courage, strength, resilience, fighting spirit, foresight, fortitude and sense of patriotism of the Nigerian.

    “Before you threaten us with war think twice, study our history and learn about who we are and what we are capable of doing.”

  • Anthrax: MACBAN urges pastoralists to avoid Niger, Burkina Faso borders

    Anthrax: MACBAN urges pastoralists to avoid Niger, Burkina Faso borders

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has urged herders to avoid taking their animals to the Niger Republic and Burkina Faso borders in their quest for green pasture in order to curtail the spread of anthrax disease.

    The National President of the association, Baba Ngelzarma, said
    that since Ghana, where the first case of the anthrax disease was recorded earlier in the year, shares a boundary with Burkina Faso, it would not be difficult for it to get to Niger Republic, which shares a boundary with Yobe State.

    According to him, “You know Yobe shares borders with Niger Republic. We hereby call on the attention of all states that are sharing borders with Niger Republic to take proactive measures so that we don’t cause a crisis.

    “The first case of the disease occurred in Ghana. Burkina Faso shares borders with Ghana and also with Niger. With the movements of pastoralists, if this thing goes to one country like Burkina Faso, it can easily come into Nigeria.

    “We have already spoken to our branches in those states to draw their attention to their state government to take immediate proactive measures to forestall any emergency.”

    On Saturday, cases of the disease were recorded in two communities in Plateau State, causing some residents in Benue to panic.

    The state government disclosed this in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, and made available to journalists.

    Ngelzarma, in an interview with the punch on Sunday, said the association was taking all necessary measures to curtail the spread of the disease in the country, adding that herders must take precautions to make sure they do not go across borders indiscriminately for their grazing needs.

    He said, “We call on all our branches in the 36 states to be on alert. We have also organised sensitisation programmes for our members on how to detect this disease.

    “We are speaking to our members in Benue to safeguard their borders as we have learnt that the disease is in Plateau. We will not take any chances. Anthrax is a deadly disease.

    “The FCT has taken measures to procure vaccination against the disease occurrence in the FCT. The Yobe State government has also released some money to get some vaccination.”

  • WAFU U20 Women Tourney: Super Falconets trounce Benin Republic 3-0 to reach Final

    WAFU U20 Women Tourney: Super Falconets trounce Benin Republic 3-0 to reach Final

    Nigeria strolled to a 3-0 win over Benin Republic in the second semi-final of the WAFU B U20 Women Championship in Kumasi on Wednesday, easily picking their ticket to the Final match to be decided on Saturday at the same Baba Yara Stadium.

    Expectedly, the World Cup quarter-finalists didn’t have to break much sweat on the night, with Amina Omowunmi Bello putting them in front in the 23rd minute of the game.

    Precocious attacking midfielder Esther Onyenezide hit a brace, scoring first in the 34th and then in the 52nd minute to put daylight between both teams in Ghana’s second city.

    Nigeria’s Chinyere Kalu was selected as Most Valuable Player of the Match.

    Hosts Ghana won the first semi final match, defeating Burkina Faso’s Dames 3-1 to reach the final on Saturday.

    Saturday’s final jangles the bell of the interesting rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria at all levels of the game, and the hosts would wish they could stop the 19-goal Falconets who are already looking like champions-in-waiting.

    Tournament top scorer Opeyemi Ajakaye did not add to her tally on Wednesday night, but Saturday’s final is a great opportunity for her to raise her total haul for the championship.

  • WAFU U20 Women Tourney: Falconets eye another goal rush against Burkina Faso

    WAFU U20 Women Tourney: Falconets eye another goal rush against Burkina Faso

    With a harvest of 13 goals from their two matches so far, in which they bagged maximum six points, Nigeria’s Falconets are looking forward to another goal-haul against their counterparts from Burkina Faso in Kumasi on Sunday.

    The two-time World Cup silver-medallists are determined to take the wind off the sails of the Burkina Faso dames when both teams clash at the WAFU B U20 Women Championship inside the Paa Joe Stadium.

    Burkina Faso’s U20 girls turned back their counterparts from Niger Republic 8-0, only three days after the Falconets had trashed the same team 7-0.

    Both Nigeria and Burkina Faso have reached the tournament’s semi-finals, but the Falconets will insist on drawing the line between themselves and the fellow West African girls when the chips are down.

    Both teams commence hostilities at the Paa Joe Stadium at 4pm, with Togo and Niger Republic also doing the same business from the same time at the Baba Yara Stadium.

  • WAFU B Tourney: Falconets look forward to another big win, against Togo

    WAFU B Tourney: Falconets look forward to another big win, against Togo

    Still thrilled by their 7-0 spanking of the U20 girls of Niger Republic in the opening match of Group B of the WAFU B U20 Women Championship ongoing in Kumasi, Nigeria’s Falconets cannot wait for Wednesday to fire from all cylinders once more, against their Togolese counterparts, in order to reach the tournament’s semi-finals before their match against Burkina Faso on Sunday.

    Forward Opeyemi Ajakaye, who won a FIFA U17 World Cup bronze medal with the Flamingos in India last year, turned up with a hat-trick, and defender Jumoke Alani and midfielder Chinyere Kalu were also among the goals as the World Cup quarter-finalists steamrolled the girls from Niamey on Sunday.

    Victory over the Togolese on Wednesday will assure the Falconets of a place in the semi finals, which is why they will pull no punches right from kickoff by 6pm at the Baba Yara Stadium.

    On Sunday, the Falconets will be up against Burkina Faso in the last match of Group B, scheduled for the Paa Joe Stadium also in Kumasi.

    Hosts Ghana head Group A which also has the Republic of Benin and Cote d’Ivoire.

  • Burkina Faso edge out Mali to clinch U17 AFCON bronze

    Burkina Faso edge out Mali to clinch U17 AFCON bronze

    Burkina Faso ended their sojourn at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a place on the podium.

    This was after they edged out Mali 2-1 in the play-off in Annaba on Thursday night to finish third.

    The Burkinabe enjoyed sweet revenge against the Malians having lost by a solitary goal when they met in the group stages.

    Ousmane Camara’s first half penalty and Appolinaire Bougma’s strike after the break ensured Burkina Faso return home with a medal on their necks.

    Mamadou Doumbia scored Mali’s consolation in the second half, his fourth of the tournament, but it did little to spur a possible comeback.

    While Burkina Faso went in with their full strength squad, Mali fielded a hugely changed team as coach Soumaila Coulibaly sought to give all players an opportunity to have a taste of continental football.

    Burkina Faso had the first chance at goal with Camara having a curling effort fly inches wide in the 11th minute.

    In the 19th minute, Mali came close but defender Nouhoun Bamba made a goalline clearance to deny Salif Noah Leintu’s effort.

    After a balanced start, it was Burkina Faso who would break the deadlock with Camara slotting a 25th minute penalty after Bougma was appended in the area.

    This was the first time that the Malians were conceding at the tournament.

    They tried to level terms before the break with Doumbia having two chances, first a shot from distance that dragged just wide.

    While two minutes to the break, he had a header pushed against the crossbar by the keeper.

    Burkina Faso needed just two minutes after the break to double their tally, Bougma finishing off a cross from the right by Camara.

    Stunned and with a two-goal deficit, Mali made changes with Angel Tia and Mahamoud Barry who had been rested coming on.

    They halved the deficit in the 58th minute, thanks to some improved attack, with Doumbia netting his fourth of the tournament.

    The goal pumped in some belief in the Malian side, but despite their efforts, Burkina Faso held on for the win and a precious bronze medal to wipe their tears after failing to make the final.

  • Golden Eaglets fumble, crash out of U17 AFCON, to miss World Cup

    Golden Eaglets fumble, crash out of U17 AFCON, to miss World Cup

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets fumbled on Thursday and crashed out of the ongoing Under 17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Golden Eaglets lost 1:2 against Burkina Faso in the quarter-final encounter in Algiers, failing to qualify for the U17 FIFA World Cup.

    Aboubacar Camara found the back of the Golden Eaglets’ net with a rebound, which Tochukwu Ogboji failed to clear in the 45th minute of play, putting Burkina Faso one foot forward.

    Camara again pulled the trigger in the 57th minute of play, scoring from the penalty spot after another blunder from Ogboji, which saw him tripped on Souleymane Alio in the penalty area.

    Nigeria, however, responded 10 minutes later via a simple tap-in by Abubakar Abdullahi to reduce the goal deficit for the home team.

    Assisted by Favour Daniel, following a corner, Abdullahi’s tap-in came in for the Golden Eaglets in the 67th minute but was not enough to turn the game on its head as the game finished in favour of their opponents.

    TNG reports the result means Nigeria could not secure a ticket to the 2023 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in November, after failing to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing AFCON.

    Meanwhile, Morrocco, Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso have all booked places at this year’s Under 17 FIFA World Cup, having qualified for the semi-finals of the ongoing AFCON.

  • U17 AFCON Q/Final: We are ready for Burkina Faso – Golden Eaglets Coach

    U17 AFCON Q/Final: We are ready for Burkina Faso – Golden Eaglets Coach

    Golden Eaglets coach, Nduka Ugbade has said the Nigerian Under 17 team is well prepared for the quarter-final encounter against Burkina Faso in the ongoing U17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ugbade disclosed this during a press briefing, where he stressed that the Golden Eaglets are focused and working hard towards achieving success.

    “We had an interesting match with South Africa and it has prepared us well for further challenges in the competition. We learnt a lot playing Zambia, Morocco and South Africa – all strong teams – in the group phase and that was good furnace for us to be a better squad.

    “The quarter-final matches will be very hard nuts to crack because that is the step that earns you the World Cup ticket. None of the four games will be easy.

    “Our interest is Burkina Faso and we are working hard towards achieving success. We have not come this far to drop out. My boys are focused hard on the World Cup ticket. After that, we can then focus on other objectives,” he said.

    TNG reports the Golden Eaglets had earlier arrived in Algiers for the crunch quarter-final match against Burkina Faso on Thursday. They played all their group games in Constantine and will now look for good tidings in Algiers.

  • Algeria 2023: Golden Eaglets to battle Burkina Faso for World Cup ticket

    Algeria 2023: Golden Eaglets to battle Burkina Faso for World Cup ticket

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will trade tackles with the U-17 side of Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals of the 2023 U-17 AFCON in Algeria.

    Burkina Faso came from a goal down to beat defending champions Cameroon 2-1 in their final Group C game on Sunday to initiate a clash with the Golden Eaglet.

    Burkina Faso lost 1-0 to Mali in their first game of the tournament while Cameroon fell 2-0 to the Malians.

    Going into Sunday’s game, a draw would have suited both Burkina Faso and Cameroon to go through to the last eight.

    While the Burkinabes eventually progressed, Cameroon crashed out no thanks to the defeat.

    The Cameroon U-17 side are the defending champions having won the tournament in 2021.

    The Eaglets booked their place into the knockout stage after coming from behind twice to defeat South Africa 3-2 in Saturday.

    Nduka Ugbade side will take on their quarter-final opponent on Thursday, May 11.

    Meanwhile, other quarter-final pairing will see Senegal take on South Africa, Morocco tackle Algeria and Mali battle Congo.

    All four semi-finalist will secure a spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup slated for Peru later in the year.

  • FG condemns killing of Nigerian pilgrims in Burkina Faso

    FG condemns killing of Nigerian pilgrims in Burkina Faso

    The Federal Government has condemned the gruesome killings of some Nigerian in Eastern Burkina Faso travelling to Senegal on pilgrimage.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this known in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to the Ministry, the Federal government is deeply saddened by the heinous crime against its citizens and is engaging with the government of Burkina Faso to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.

    The Nigerian government has vowed to bring to book the culprits of the crime.

    The statement reads “the Federal Government of Nigeria received with grave concern, disturbing reports of the gruesome killing of some Nigerian travellers by yet-to-be-identified gunmen on 1st February, 2023 between Kantchari and Fada N’gourma in Eastern Burkina Faso.

    “The Nigerians who belonged to the Tijjaniya Sect were said to be travelling to Senegal on a periodic pilgrimage when the tragic incident occurred.

    “The Nigerian Government is deeply dismayed by this unfortunate development and is engaging with the Burkinabe authorities through the Nigerian Mission in Ouagadougou to ensure a thorough investigation of the incident, with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria condoles with the families of the affected persons and enjoins Nigerians to remain calm while investigation is ongoing.

    “May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”

    It was reported that 15 Nigerian pilgrims on their way to Senegal were killed when gunmen in Burkina Faso attacked the buses transporting them.