Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana of Manchester United exchanged compliments during their meeting in the West African nation.
Onana travelled to Burkina Faso for a charity event organised by the Bertrand Traoré foundation, a non-profit by Ajax striker and captain of the Burkina Faso national football team, Bertrand Traoré.
Earlier this week, Captain Traoré welcomed Onana, and the two posed for pictures as the football player gifted the leader with his Manchester United shirt.
“My deepest thanks to the president and to the Burkinabè people for their hospitality. This visit allowed me to better discover the human and cultural richness of the country,” Onana wrote in a post on Instagram.
As reported by a Cameroonian news outlet, the leader of Burkina Faso praised the footballer’s visit as a meaningful symbol of unity across the continent.
“It is a testament to what we are striving for, our mission that Africa should unite,” he reportedly said.
The 37-year-old leader ascended to power following a coup d’état in 2022 and has garnered attention throughout Africa for his passionate stance on pan-Africanism. He has also expressed criticism regarding the excessive influence of Western nations on African countries.
His message has gained considerable traction on social media, especially among young people. Some of his supporters liken him to Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara.
