Target quarterfinals for Burkina Faso

African qualifiers Egypt, Mali and Cote d' Ivoire have all been to the World Youth Cup before but the only newcomer for next month's 2003 Championship is Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso may be the debutants from Africa but this squad from the western part of the continent is capable of making a huge impact in the 24-team tournament which kicks-off on November 27.

In 2001 in Argentina, Egypt and Ghana carried the African flag far and high when both made it to the semifinals with Ghana finishing second best only to Argentina in the final.

After Senegal's class act in the World Cup, once again the spotlight will be on the African teams as talent scouts from Europe and Americas zero in to catch them young.

Dutch coach Mart Nooiji is the man in charge of the Burkinabe and the one aspect that will stand them in good stead has been their consistency.

Consistency both on and off the field as the Burkina Faso and Holland's football federations have a joint programme. Result of that programme has been Nooiji's role as head of the youth teams since 2001.

Most of the current players in the under-20 squad have been together for quite a while. The Burkinabe stunned the world when they finished third in the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago with celebrations on the streets.

Among their scalps were strong sides like Spain and Argentina and Burkina Faso's performance in Trinidad marked the ar.rival of yet another dazzling team from the continent. Most of the lads from that team form the nucleus of the present under-20 squad and this could play a major role in the team's progress in UAE.

Burkina Faso, who hosted this year's African under-20 championship, scored victories over South Africa and Gabon and made the semifinals. That effort clinched them a berth in the World Youth Championship but their progress in the African edition was halted in the semifinals by Ivory Coast. They also lost to Mali in the fight for third place but some brilliant individual performances caught the eye of many.

Midfielders Boureima Outtara and Madi Panintiguiri along with star striker Wilfried Sanou are the pillars of this Western African team which is also referred to as 'Stallions'.

Madi played first in the under-17 team and today apart from the youth team he is also a crucial member of the senior national team. Madi plays for French club Bordeaux and feels very confident of his nation's chances in the World Youth Cup.

"We will be out to prove that our display in Trinidad and Tobago in 2001 was no fluke. More than ten teams who played there will also be here, so we know them well," said Madi in an interview with FIFA.

After moving out to play football in Europe since 17, Wilfried Sanou has matured as a star striker and a prominent figure in Burkina Faso's success. First playing for Austria's FC Tirol Wattens, Sanou is now with FC Sion in Switzerland. Sanou, who is a product of Burkina Faso's football academy has played at all junior levels for his country and scored thrice in the 2001 under-17 finals.

In next month's championship, Burkina Faso have been drawn along with two other debutants Slovakia and Panama with host UAE completing the four-nation group.

"We're looking to reach the quarterfinals. It is our first World Youth Championship so it'll be an achievement just to reach the second round. After that we'll see how things pan out. But with the team we have, I think we can pose problems. I can honestly see us reaching the semis," is what Madi feels about the Stallions' chances in UAE.

Coming from an African nation, this is a statement which should be taken as a warning by the South American and European giants.

BURKINO FASO'S RECORD
* FIRST TIME QUALIFIERS FOR THE WYC.
* FINISHED THIRD IN THE WORLD UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO IN 2001.
* IN TRINIDAD, UPSET TOP TEAMS LIKE SPAIN AND ARGENTINA

GROUP F:
Burkina Faso, Slovakia, Panama and UAE.
Venue: Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium (Al Jazira), Abu Dhabi.
Burkina Faso's fixtures: Against Panama on 28-11; Against Slovakia on 1-12; Against UAE on 4-12.