Burkina Faso Stages WAMU Tourney

Last Sunday the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) football tournament kicked off in Burkina Faso, with local footballers featuring for their national teams.

Most of the West African national teams are active in organizing football competitions, in connection with the organization of the Cup of African Nations, to promote locally-based players, in association with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

After the Southern Africa and Central Africa tournaments, it is now WAMU's turn to gather eight countries to meet in a football competition.

The teams have been divided into two groups of four: Group A comprises hosts, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo while Group B contains Cote D'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Benin and Mali.

The national teams will meet in a week-long soccer tournament between 28th October and 4th November, 2007, in the Ouagadougou Stadium, for the sub-regional soccer championship.

Two matches from Group A (Senegal vs. Togo and Burkina Faso vs. Nigeria) ended in goal-less draws, whilst yesterday in Group B, Cote D'Ivoire beat Guinea Bissau 5-0 and Mali trounced Benin 3-0.

The competition provides a chance for local based players on the continent to prove that whenever the opportunity arises, they can represent their nations in any international competition.

By Pierre Toto