Burkinabe goalkeeper Kilian Nikiema shared the reasons behind the Stallions A canceling their trip to Argentina to face the Albiceleste in a friendly match. In an interview with Omroep West Sport, he mentioned repeated flight delays and the physical risks associated with a 14-hour journey without adequate recovery time.
“The reason is that our flight was delayed three times. We played against Central African Republic on Monday and were supposed to face Argentina on Saturday,” the goalkeeper detailed. Initially scheduled for Monday evening, the departure was ultimately postponed to the night from Friday to Saturday. The players would have arrived in Argentina on the same day as the match, without sufficient time to rest.
Kilian Nikiema clarified that this decision was made collectively by the players, concerned about preventing injury risks. He also emphasized that the Federation informed them of technical issues regarding the flight. Regarding the participation of the U23 Stallions, the goalkeeper acknowledged that this match represented a unique opportunity for young talents to compete against Argentina, despite the challenging travel conditions.
