The moment we have been waiting for has arrived. The Elephants are back to the continent and this time, they are playing in Mali against Etoile Filante de Ouagadougou. What do we really know about this about this club and how they have been preparing for this game?
Let us start from the top. The club is based in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. They were founded in 1955. Their official club colours are blue and white, just like the People’s Elephants. They play their home games at the Stade du 4 Aout in Ouagadougou.
Their stadium did not meet CAF’s standards for hosting games so they play their home games in Bamako, Mali. That is where they played their home game against Hafia of Guinea whom they beat by goal aggregate to move to the next round. The first leg with Hafia ended 1-1 while the second leg ended 0-0 and they qualified through the away goal rule.
They are a big side in Burkina Faso and are currently the Coupe Du Faso Champions and also the Super Cup winners. So they are a strong side.
Les Stellistes is their nickname. In preparation for the game against Enyimba, they played a friendly game on September 3 against Majestic FC and won 1-0 courtesy of Max Christ Vouzon’s goal. Talking of Vouzon, he is the striker they intend to unleash on the Elephants. He was bought from Brunei in Asia and his arrival is a big boost for the side.
In English, they are called “The Shooting Stars” because that is what Etoile Filante means. The team arrived in Mali on Wednesday and had s training session at the March 26 Stadium and trained at the Mohammed Konate Stadium in Bamako where they will play against the Elephants on Friday.
The last time they played against a Nigerian club was in the 2023-2024 season against Rivers United who beat them to progress to the next round of the Confederation Cup.
They will also rely on their versatile left wing back, Ange Ouedrago who can play as left back, wing back and can also play in midfield and can also play dangerous freekicks.
The team play with physicality but have a somewhat weak defense, little wonder they sometimes play with three defenders, then the wingers make it 3-4-3. The team is assured by their reliable goalkeeper, Philip Mare who made fine saves against Hafia to keep them in the game.
For Yemi, he must be prepared for Physical football especially from the centre backs who are strong but can beat them with pace and direct play. Ange Ouedrago is a strong left back and is one of Etoile’s best players. To gain advantage, Yemi may decide to start a left footed winger against him to invert. Sometimes he plays high up the pitch alongside his defenders and that is an opportunity to hit on the counter. With flawless passing in the final third, the Elephants can open them up easily and with pace, their heavily built centre backs will find it difficult to catch up.
Yemi’s team must also keep an eye on the Ye Camille, who wears jersey number 2 for Etoile as he is dangerous and can play alone at the front due to his hold up play.
