Burkinabe Minoungou After Elimination: "We Came to Reach AFCON Final, But This Is Football"

Burkina Faso national team player Georgie Meinongo expressed his deep disappointment after their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in the round of 16 at the hands of hosts Ivory Coast.

Meinongo, who competed in the AFCON with only one eye, defying all odds, said: "Many things didn't go our way. In the first half, we conceded two goals, and I think that's what disheartened us. We tried to play and give our all, but we left spaces at the back and were punished with a third goal."

He added: "We came here with the goal of reaching the final, but unfortunately, this is football, and the journey ends here. We faced a very good Ivorian team that exploited our weaknesses. We will now go and work harder, and we hope to return stronger than ever in future editions."

Meinongo captured attention at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, shining with the Burkina Faso national team despite losing sight in his left eye due to a serious injury in 2023. He proved that will triumphs over all limitations, becoming one of the tournament's most prominent and inspiring stories.