Doha: Burkina Faso’s Junior Stallions faced a challenging defeat against Italy’s Squadra Azzurra U17 in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U17 World Cup at Aspire Zone Pitch 2. The tightly contested match ended 1-0 in favor of Italy, as Burkina Faso’s coach, Oscar Barro, reflected on the team’s performance and the lessons learned from their journey in the tournament.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Oscar Barro, the coach of the Junior Stallions, commented on the tactical prowess of the Italian team and acknowledged the opportunities his side had to score. Despite creating chances, Burkina Faso failed to capitalize, conceding a decisive goal. Barro expressed a sense of frustration and disappointment but emphasized the learning process for his team.

The coach highlighted the efforts and commitment of his players throughout the competition, expressing gratitude for their dedication. He recognized the support from various sports organizations that facilitated their participation in the tournament. Barro also extended his congratulations to the Italian team, acknowledging the high-level competition as a valuable experience for his players.

The match was closely contested, with Burkina Faso showing promise in the first half. Mohammed Zongo’s attempts to score were thwarted by the crossbar and post, indicating the narrow margins in the game. However, a critical error by Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper, Rahim Ouattara, led to Italy’s Thomas Campaniello capitalizing and scoring the sole goal of the match.

The result marked the end of Burkina Faso’s journey in the U17 World Cup, with the Junior Stallions captain, Cherif Ali Badra Barro, expressing disappointment over the missed opportunities. The tournament proceeds with the semi-finals featuring Brazil vs. Portugal and Italy vs. Austria on November 24th. The FIFA U-17 World Cup is scheduled in Doha, Qatar, from November 3rd to 27th, 2025.