Adama Guira: "I was diagnosed with tendinitis in my right knee"

You were part of Burkina Faso's squad at the 2023 AFCON but couldn't finish the tournament because of a nasty injury against Algeria. How are things today?

Adama Guira: I had to go to Spain for treatment. Everything went well. I'm back on my feet, but I've moved on to something else, though still in football.

Do you want to become a coach?

Adama Guira: Becoming a coach might be saying too much. I'm training, because being on the pitch is one thing, but moving on to something else afterwards is a different reality. So you have to learn, keep yourself informed and understand what goes on when you're not on the pitch. Being on the bench, for example, is something quite different, so I'm broadening my education across the board. I've done the CAF diplomas and I've also done the UEFA C diploma. This year, I'm working on the UEFA B Licence. That's about it.

In October 2024, you brought your playing career to an end. Was it because of the injury, or was it simply the right time to step away from football?

Adama Guira: I'd say it was a bit of both. It isn't easy to come back as you should after an injury like that. I'm already 36. You have to be very realistic and tell yourself you'll have another career. Also, after that Achilles tendon rupture at the AFCON in Ivory Coast, I was diagnosed with tendinitis in my right knee. It was all a bit too much. I was already deep in thought about it, so I decided it was right to let the public know once and for all that I had stopped playing football and that I'm now doing something else.

Image recovered from a public archive captured on 23/05/2025. The archived file is verified; the current source is unavailable. View archived capture

Let's talk about sports infrastructure. How does it make you feel to see the Stade Sangoulé Lamizana in Bobo Dioulasso in such a state?

Adama Guira: It hurts. That's all I can say. But to play good football, you need good facilities, good pitches and so on. The Stade Sangoulé Lamizana isn't just for football. I saw there's an athletics track. I've been to the stadium many times myself. The athletics track is completely unusable at the moment, even though it used to be where athletes trained. It all goes together: if there isn't a stadium that meets international standards, it affects several activities and sports. I hope the authorities also get stuck in and deliver quality sports infrastructure so we can produce champions.

What do you make of the first half of the 2024-2025 season for the Burkinabè internationals?

Adama Guira: It's good to know there have been no injuries in this first part of the season. They're managing to compete and they're fulfilled, which is the most important thing. Issoufou Dayo has become the all-time top scorer in the history of his club in Morocco, RS Berkane, during this period. That's incredible for a defender. It's something worth highlighting for a Burkinabè playing abroad who has delivered a performance like that. It really deserves praise and encouragement. There's also Bertrand Traoré, who is doing well with his club. I had the pleasure of watching him play against Real Sociedad in the Europa League. He's putting in good performances, he's in form and he's not injured. It's also great to know that Edmond Tapsoba is continuing on a good run. It's good to know we have players who can play at the highest level. Dango Ouattara too, a profile suited to the English Premier League. He's explosive, he jumps well and he's lively.

There is currently a controversy over the possible arrival of Alban Lafont (a French-Burkinabè) in the Burkina national team. What do you think?

Adama Guira: Personally, I think every Burkinabè footballer aspires to play for the national team. Now, you have to find out whether the player wants it. It's often difficult to court a player who doesn't want to come. That isn't right. Otherwise, the national team is for the best players and the door is wide open to any Burkinabè footballer. We should aim to give the coach a selection headache, an embarrassment of quality. If we can bring in 50 quality players, it's up to the coach to make his choices and decide. I see no problem with that.