Stallions: Amir Abdou explains his decisions and sets his expectations.

After announcing his 25-man squad for the first two matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Amir Abdou addressed several absences and choices that raise questions. Regarding Cyriaque Irié, the coach explained that he refused to allow the player to join the group for just these two matches because he wanted to obtain his driving license. "The player decided to get his driving license... he wanted to come for two matches, I refused. We must respect the national team; it is not a revolving door," he stated, adding that the player's agent had tried to contact him, but he spoke directly with the president before making his decision.

The Franco-Comorian coach also clarified the situation of Bertrand Traoré and young Mohamed Zongo. For the captain of the Stallions, who has just returned to the field, Amir Abdou believes it is essential to give him time to regain his rhythm. "He has played 15 minutes. He had them yesterday. Let him find his bearings. (...) We cannot take a player who has only played 15 minutes. We hope he will play more matches. Selection will happen naturally," he emphasized. Concerning Mohamed Zongo, the coach pointed out that his absence is due to his lack of playing time in the first team. "He is a talented young player but has no playing time. It would not be logical to select him. We must not act recklessly. It is not possible to take a young player just because the public wants him. He must be in the first team. The national team is the elite," he insisted.

Amir Abdou finally discussed the Stallions' first opponent, Benin. The Burkinabé coach highlighted the quality of the team coached by Gernot Rohr, with whom he says he has worked extensively beforehand. "Already, we know that this opponent had a good AFCON. They were eliminated by Egypt in the Round of 16, if I'm not mistaken," he recalled. He assured that his staff has examined the statistics and behavior of the Squirrels, particularly away from home, to identify their weaknesses. "The important thing is to start well here," concluded Amir Abdou, who wants to see his players approach these qualifiers with seriousness and efficiency.