Burkina Faso host Algeria in a 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier first leg playoff on Saturday in Ouagadougou.
It has been a very colourful year in football for Burkina Faso after finishing runners up at the 2013 Africa Cup.
And now, The Stallions are 180 minutes away from capping it with a World Cup debut should the results over the two legs go their way.
Burkina Faso coach Paul Put believes the home leg match this weekend is highly likely to decide the direction of their destiny ahead of next month’s return leg.
“This is a very crucial stage and winning comfortably at home will be very important for us before we go to Algeria,” said Put.
“We shall need the support of the 12th man who are the fans because getting a comfortable win will be one step in the World Cup before we go for the return leg.”
Burkina Faso remains without the services of the hotshot striker Alain Traore who has not seen any action since January at the Africa Cup of Nations due to a long-term injury.
However, Jonathan Pitriopa has ably stepped into that leadership role in his absence and was instrumental in their push to finishing top of Group E in which he also scored two goals.
Striker Aristide Bance of who has also got two goals in the qualifiers is available and continues to be a Stallions favourite despite being a peripheral figure at 2.Bundesliga club Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Meanwhile, three-time Fifa World Cup finalists Algeria are upbeat despite playing away as they chase a second successive tournament appearance.
"We're confident, but this is a team that will be hard to handle at home since they will have their home fans behind them," Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra said.
"There are many individuals in the like Charles Kabore, Bancé and especially Pitroipa. This will be a player to watch.
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