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BURKINA Faso coach Paul Put says the 4-0 thrashing of Ethiopia gives his side “great confidence” going into the final group C match against Zambia on Tuesday.
The win by 10-man Burkina Faso propelled the side to the top of the table with four points. Zambia and Nigeria are in joint second on two-points apiece. Ethiopia tail the Group with one point.
“We are on the right track. Now we have to be smart against Zambia,” Put said at a post-match press briefing.
He hopes his side can maintain all round discipline and remain compact at the back “and hopefully we will get to the end (quarter-final).”
Put said he also hopes the team won’t get overly excited about the win, Burkina Faso’s first ever victory at an AfCON final in 15 years.
He said the team will first go for a recuperation training session before assessing the status of each player in plotting the game against Zambia.
While Zambia will be playing Burkina Faso at Mbombela Stadium, Nigeria will at the same time be in Rustenburg dealing with Ethiopia to decide which two teams qualify from the group.
Zambia needs an outright win to qualify but a draw for Burkina Faso will be enough for them to earn a place among the last four.
Burkina Faso could also still qualify if the lose to Zambia while Nigeria and Ethiopia draw.
The Burkinabe would, however, be ejected if both Zambia and Nigeria win.
Ethiopia’s only hope of qualifying would be in them beating Nigeria by a wide margin and hope that Burkina Faso beat or draw with Zambia.
Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw said at a post match briefing that the Walias have not given up the fight for a place in the quarter-final.
He said the 4-0 loss to Burkina Faso was disappointing but that Ethiopia has dignity to protect and will put up a better fight against Nigeria.
“I can tell you we are not going to defend. We will play to score many goals and win,” he said.
