Burkina Faso: Ismaelo Ganiou ready to turn his back on the Stallions?

Burkina Faso: Ismaelo Ganiou ready to turn his back on the Stallions?

Lens secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Rennes in the 21st round of the French Ligue 1. Delivering a standout performance, Ismaelo Ganiou made it clear he is aiming to play for France, potentially at the expense of Burkina Faso.

Ismaelo Ganiou no longer wants to represent Burkina Faso. Following Lens’s triumphant match against Rennes this Saturday, the 20-year-old made a surprising statement. The young defender openly expressed his intention to play for France at the international level."I’m trying to keep my feet on the ground. On a personal level, I have my goals, and the France U21 team is one of them. It’s something that attracts me. I’m giving my all and I hope to achieve it by the end of the season," he responded when asked about his personal ambitions for the season.

Ganiou face au Zimbabwe le 6 Juin 2025/ FBF

Ismaelo Ganiou was called up to the Burkina Faso senior national team in June 2025 and made his debut on the 6th of that month against Zimbabwe. Since then, he has missed several call-ups, including AFCON 2025, where his absence surprised both fans and national football pundits. While the former Annecy player was earning regular starts and impressing at Lens, then Burkina Faso head coach Brama Traoré opted not to call him up for Africa’s premier football event.

The versatile young defender, who continues to impress (10 matches, 2 goals in Ligue 1), seems to be closing the chapter on the Stallions and signaling his availability to the coach of the France U21 squad.