1995: Burundi reach their only continental final amid political crisis

Burundi began this 9th edition of the U20 AFCON tentatively. On their debut, they went down to Cameroon's Lionceaux (0-1). That defeat did not demoralise Ribakare's players. On the contrary, losing by the narrowest of margins showed them they could do better in the remaining games.

Against Mauritius, the Hirondelles Juniors won (2-1). The third match, against Senegal, was vital for the rest of the competition. A draw was enough to take Burundi into the semi-finals. Determined to reach that stage, the young Burundians got there by holding the Lionceaux de la Téranga to a one-goal-apiece draw, a side featuring a certain Salif Diao and Tony Sylva, future key men of the talented 2002 generation of Lions who would finish runners-up in Africa and reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Mali thrashed in the semi-final

After those group games, Burundi faced Mali in the semi-finals full of confidence. Mali, who had nonetheless finished top of their group ahead of hosts Nigeria, were a real test for Burundi. Baudouin Ribakare, a tactician and a coach feared for his strictness, left his side unchanged. His players followed his instructions to the letter and won 3-0. The goals were scored by Rukundo Banza, Masoudi Juma and Wilondja.

The underdogs thus sprang a surprise and reached the final of this 9th edition. The young Burundians were set to face, on 8 February 1995, Cameroon, who had beaten them (1-0) in the group stage. Although Cameroon were favourites for the final, it was Burundi who started the match very well. Fréddy Ndayishimiye and Masoudi Juma each hit the Cameroonian woodwork in turn.

"The Burundians found each other with their eyes closed"

Fear crept into the Cameroon camp, but it was too early to hope for victory. Jean Manga Onguené's players, the vast majority of whom came from the Brasserie du Cameroun football school (Gérémi Njitap, Joseph Marie Tchango, Pierre Womé, Basile Essa Mvomo and captain Augustine Simo), woke up and put the Burundians in their place. Cameroon ultimately won the final by a heavy 4-0 scoreline. Thanks to this runners-up spot, Burundi secured a place at the World Cup finals.

Théodore Ntunga, a sports journalist who accompanied the team to Nigeria, told SNA it will be very difficult to see such a talented generation in Burundi again. "They were young, talented and united. They came from three clubs: Prince Louis with the largest number of players, Vital'o and Maniema Fantasique. They spent six months together. On the pitch, they found each other with their eyes closed. It was truly a golden generation. I wasn't surprised when they reached the final", recalls this veteran of the Burundian sports press.

"These lads slept and ate together for six months"

Alphonse Rugambarara, the minister for Youth and Sports at the time, said the young players' result was no fluke. "We chose a very experienced coach in Baudouin Ribakare to lead this team. We gave him everything he needed to do his job properly. We put these lads together. They slept and ate together for a period of six months at the Kiriri campus (5km from the city of Bujumbura), in a quiet spot so that nothing would disturb them," recalls the official.

"These young players represented the whole Burundian nation"

"We were in a period of political crisis, but all the politicians were unanimous that sport, football in particular, could reconcile Burundians. It was not difficult, then, to free up the resources to support these young players, because the transitional government's policy was to guide young people through sport. These young players in the national team were the example for the others. When they played, they represented the whole Burundian nation and not this or that ethnic group," recalls the former minister.

Burundi hammered by Raul's Spain at the World Cup

A few months after that continental feat, Burundi played their first World Cup. They were drawn in Group B, alongside Spain, Japan and Chile. Baudouin Ribakare kept almost the same players he had used at the AFCON. Burundi's new adventure began on 13 April 1995 in Doha at the Al-Ahly Stadium. The Hirondelles Juniors could not withstand Raul and his team-mates, losing 5-1. Burundi's only goal was scored by Freddy Ndayishimiye.

In the second match, Burundi drew with Chile (1-1). Blaise Butunungu scored the equaliser. On 16 April 2015, Burundi's adventure ended with a 0-2 defeat to Japan.

Since then, no Burundian team, at any level, has ever qualified for a World Cup.

Désiré HATUNGIMANA