Ouagadougou: The National Fire Brigade (BNSP) defeated the National Gendarmerie team 4-2 at the Issoufou Joseph Conombo Municipal Stadium in the opening match of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Cup in military football, as observed by the AIB.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Firefighters dominated the first half of the match with a score of 2-1. The second half further showcased the Firefighters' prowess as they added two more goals to their tally, despite missing a penalty. The Gendarmes managed to narrow the score towards the end, but the BNSP's performance clearly indicated their strong ambitions for the competition. The tournament had been on hiatus for over a decade, and its resumption was marked by an opening ceremony led by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Moussa Diallo. He emphasized the importance of the event for strengthening military cohesion and resilience.
Brigadier General Moussa Diallo highlighted that the competition was previously halted due to security concerns that arose in 2011. The need for military units to be deployed affected the continuation of the event. Louis Remy Hien, the competition coordinator and central director of military sports, mentioned that 12 entities are participating, with the tournament structured into two phases culminating in semi-finals.
The participating teams include the Air Force, the Army, the BNSP, the National Gendarmerie, the Special and Rapid Intervention Brigade (BSIR), Water and Forests, the Central Group of Armies, the VDP Brigade, Customs, the GSP, the Municipal Police, and the National Police. The matches are scheduled from September 18 to October 3, taking place at various venues including the municipal stadium, the Police Academy, the PMK, and Camp Paspanga.