Burkina Faso or France: Ismaïlio Ganiou offers new clarification

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·25 febbraio 2026

Burkina Faso or France: Ismaïlio Ganiou offers new clarification

The Lens defender clarifies his stance further and appears to have closed the Stallions chapter for good.

Burkina Faso or France: Ismaïlio Ganiou offers new clarification

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Two weeks after his controversial comments, Ismaïlio Ganiou gave an interview to La Voix du Nord. This time, the Lens defender was more transparent than ever.

In his statements, Ismaïlio Ganiou made it clear that playing for the French national team was not just a dream for him, but has always been his main goal.

The France national team, in general, even before Burkina Faso was mentioned, and from a very young age, was always my target. I grew up here and trained at a youth academy where I saw many of my teammates called up to the national teams—U16, U17. I never got that chance. That has always motivated me, and I always told myself that I wanted to join them too. I’m still working hard to make it happen. I hope it comes true soon. In any case, this is what draws me in. I wouldn’t call it a dream, because it’s not the ultimate goal, but it’s been on my mind for a long time.

"It's time for Edmond Tapsoba to move on" – Hubert Velud

This statement comes after the 20-year-old defender was evasive in mid-February about his international choice, stating that "the French youth team attracts me." Ganiou explains this change in attitude by saying that his experience with the Burkina Faso Stallions hasn’t gone as he’d hoped since his first call-up in June 2025.

I love and respect Burkina Faso. I was called up once for a friendly, but I never got a chance to play in the Africa Cup of Nations, nor was I called up for the previous qualifiers. Ismaïlio Ganiou has emerged as one of the revelations of the Ligue 1 season. He continues to feature in the starting lineup and has delivered outstanding performances (scoring two goals) for Lens.