Burkina Faso's players celebrate teammate Alain Traore's goal (2nd L) against Ethiopia during their African Nations Cup (AFCON 2013) Group C soccer match in Nelspruit, January 25, 2013 (Photo: Reuters)
Burkina Faso's defiant midfielder Mohamed Koffi believes his team can overtake Algeria in the World Cup playoffs to reach Brazil 2014.
"It's the first time we've gotten this far but we deserve it. Now we have to go through Algeria. We haven't gone crazy, and we are totally focused on the game because we want to play in the World Cup," Koffi told l'Intelligent d'Abidjan in an interview on Friday.
"We are not the same Burkina Faso as before. All our previous failures gave us strength and we don't fear anyone now, but we respect our opponents," he added.
Burkina Faso will host Algeria on Saturday in the first leg of the playoffs and are hoping for a home team advantage before the return leg next month.
"We know this Algerian team well. We know they will be cautious here and try to get a draw, hoping to win it back at home. We should be vigilant and push hard to avoid elimination. We must stick together and that's our key to success, like we did during the Nations Cup 2013," he concluded.
Burkina Faso made a stunning run during this year's Africa’s Cup of Nations by reaching the final game for the first time in history.
Koffi – a former player of Egypt's Petrojet – tipped Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon to reach the World Cup finals.
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