Argentine Media: AFA Scheduled Burkina Faso Team to Fly Economy for 25 Hours

According to Argentine media outlet LM Neuquén, the Burkina Faso national team encountered an unexpected logistical mishap due to travel arrangements before their friendly match against Argentina. French journalist Romain Molina revealed on the TN program that the team faced serious problems during their journey from Morocco to Buenos Aires. Not only did players express dissatisfaction with the travel conditions and refuse to depart, but the situation ultimately required the personal intervention of Burkina Faso's Minister of Sports to coordinate a solution.

According to Molina, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) hired Eurodata, a company led by FIFA agent Jairo Pachón, to organize the friendly match. The agreement stipulated that Argentina would cover the costs of transportation and accommodation for the Burkina Faso delegation, but the travel would be via low-cost commercial flights. The Burkina Faso Football Federation had previously accepted this arrangement, but after learning the specific itinerary, the players questioned the lengthy journey required to reach Argentina.

At the time, the Burkina Faso team was in Casablanca, having just participated in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. According to the original plan, players would endure approximately 25 hours of travel, including a layover in Côte d'Ivoire en route to Paris, and then a connecting flight from Paris to Argentina, all in economy class.

Molina stated that Burkina Faso players packed their bags twice in preparation for departure but ultimately refused to leave the hotel, deeming the journey too long. In addition to demanding improved travel conditions, players also requested financial compensation for participating in the friendly match.

The situation then escalated further. According to Molina, the Burkina Faso Football Federation had actually known the specific terms of the contract for several weeks but had failed to inform the players in advance. Some players even decided to withdraw from the national team call-up as a result.

Faced with the deadlock, Burkina Faso's Minister of Sports personally visited the national team's hotel, hoping to facilitate negotiations and persuade the players to continue their journey to Buenos Aires.

Ultimately, to resolve the travel issue, a charter flight from Casablanca directly to Argentina was urgently arranged, operated by iFly. While this solution addressed the team's transportation problems, it incurred significant additional costs. According to information disclosed by Molina, the charter flight cost approximately $500,000.

As Burkina Faso was scheduled to play Argentina in a friendly match at the Monumental Stadium during the October international window the day after their arrival, this incident raised concerns about whether the friendly could proceed as planned.

Argentine media outlet Doble Amarilla later reported that Burkina Faso was expected to arrive in Argentina on Saturday at noon local time, with no risk of the friendly match against Argentina being canceled. The team would depart from Morocco on the charter flight in the early morning, with an estimated arrival at Ezeiza International Airport around 13:15.

Similar issues were not unique to Burkina Faso. Mauritania, Argentina's warm-up opponent in March that year, also questioned the original travel conditions. To avoid a lengthy 20 to 25-hour journey, they chose to arrange their own private flight. Both parties eventually agreed that the relevant authorities would only reimburse the cost equivalent to the originally planned commercial flight tickets.

Benin, Argentina's other opponent, successfully arrived at the destination, although several players were absent from their squad. With Burkina Faso and Mauritania both raising objections about travel arrangements, the organization and hosting of Argentina's friendly matches during this international window became a key talking point.

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