BURKINA FASO DID NOT PLAY WITH A RED CARDED GOAL KEEPER

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Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye who is flying high the flag of his native Burkina Faso at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa lost his dad while in action during their second Group C game against Ethiopia on Friday night.

Friday night turned out to be rather an emotional night for the goalie who aside being red carded in the 59^th minute of Burkina’s 4-0 romping of Ethiopia was also hit with the news of the sudden death of his father upon arrival at the team’s hotel in Nelspruit in South Africa.

According to information footy-Ghana.com gathers, Soulama’s father was on his way to watch the game against Ethiopia with his friends where he met his untimely death through a motor accident in Banfora, the capital city of the Comoe province in South Western Burkina Faso.

Confirming the news, his roommate and AshantGold’s full-back Henri Traore said he was “devastated by the news of the death of the father of Soulama.”

“The whole team was disappointed after hearing this sad news. Together, we have demonstrated our support to him and tried to console him but he is a big boy; he welcomed the news bravely,” Traore said.

Burkinabe national team officials have permitted the goalie who due to the red card against Ethiopia is suspended from their final group game on Tuesday evening to travel to the country to take part in the final funeral rites for his father. He leaves on Sunday morning to join the family in Burkina Faso.

Soulama, the Burkina Faso first choice goalkeeper is expected to return to South Africa shortly after the final rites of his late father and team up with his mates should they make it into the last 8 of the Nations Cup after Tuesday’s crucial encounter with champions Zambia.