Burkina Faso reached AFCON quarter finals for only the second time after a (0-0) draw with Zambia but their talisman and current tournament top goal scorer Alain Traore will take no further part in the competition. The striker was carried with barely 10 minutes played in the game on Tuesday against Zambia with a thigh injury.
Traore told Cafonline.com at the team hotel, “My AFCON tournament is finished. It has been a long wait for us to qualify for the quarter-finals after such a long time (1998) but my injury has spoiled the enjoyment a little" said the striker who was with team doctor Romaric Toe. According to Dr Toe, Traore sustained pulled a muscle in his left thigh. Traore had just got back from a month lay- off with injury when he joined Burkina Faso at AFCON 2013. He made a substitute appearance against Nigeria, only to score the equalizer with virtually the last kick of the game. He went on to score twice; both well taken goals in Burkina Faso’s 4-0 win over Ethiopia before this latest thigh injury.
Dr Romaric Toe went on to say, “Alain’s chances of continuing in this Nations Cup are minus 10 percent. He pulled a muscle in his left thigh, and will undergo all the necessary examinations, but his competition I would say is over."
Burkina Faso who finished top of group C will stay in Nelspruit for their quarter final clash against either Togo or Tunisia on Sunday 3rdFebruary.