Ouagadougou: The coach of the Burkina Faso Women’s Stallions, Pascal Sawadogo, expressed confidence in facing the Togo Women’s Sparrowhawks, whom his team will face tomorrow, Friday, at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou, in the second qualifying round of the CAN in their category, Morocco 2026.

According to Burkina Information Agency, coach Pascal Sawadogo addressed the media at a pre-match press conference held Thursday at the Stade du 4 Aout. He emphasized that while the match could be challenging, his team is well-prepared. “It’s a match that looks like a trap match, but we will put our plans in place for victory. If the opponent is physical, we will try to be technical,” Sawadogo stated.

The preparations for the upcoming match have been ongoing since July and September, with Sawadogo highlighting their practice sessions and strategic games. “We played benchmark matches during the 2024 Olympic qualifiers against Mali and South Africa. We even played matches against men’s teams,” he added, indicating the diverse training approaches taken to enhance the team’s readiness.

An aspect of concern for Sawadogo is managing the stress levels of his players, especially with the crowd at the new 4 Aout stadium. He noted, “If you want to do well, stress can play a role. But we played them ambient sounds from the stadium to prepare them for all eventualities,” showcasing their mental preparation techniques.

In contrast, Kai Timety, the coach of the Togo Women’s Hawks, maintained a focus on the game itself, stating, “it is on the pitch that we will get to know each other. Our team is attached to values such as patriotism, commitment…”

The outcome of this match will be pivotal. After this first leg, the two teams will meet again in the return leg in Lome, which will ultimately determine their fate in the pursuit of qualifying for their second ever AFCON.