Flight delay causes scandal: Burkina Faso's senior team boycotts test match against Argentina

Due to a flight delay, the national team of Burkina Faso refused to take part in the test match against World Cup runners-up Argentina with the exception of one player, thereby causing a scandal. “Historical farce,” wrote the newspaper “AS” after Argentina’s 7-0 win against a youth team from the African country and said: “That was an absolute disgrace.”

What had happened? When traveling to Buenos Aires, the Burkina Faso national soccer team was stranded at the airport in Casablanca (Morocco) due to a delayed flight. Since the plane was only due to land in the Argentine capital three and a half hours before kick-off due to the delay, almost all players decided against continuing their journey.

The association reacted to the boycott and sent its U23 team instead in order to avoid the threat of sanctions from the world association FIFA if the game was canceled. The young footballers were hopelessly inferior in the duel with the World Cup runners-up. Despite the clear victory for the Argentines, the newspaper “Clarin” headlined: “A complete failure”.

Scaloni pays respect to Burkina Faso

Lautaro Martínez, Gianluca Prestianni, Nico Paz, Julian Álvarez, Franco Mastantuono and Giuliano Simeone as well as Moumoune Diallo scored an own goal for the South Americans. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni summed up after the one-sided game: "Sometimes there are games that are less pleasant. But people have paid for their tickets and you always have to respect the opponent."

Scaloni thanked those who made the journey from Burkina Faso: "You honor football and we tried to play this game as if it were a final. Because this is the only way these players will be shown the respect they deserve."