In a powerful demonstration of corporate citizenship, Orange Burkina Faso has launched its most ambitious fan support initiative to date, transporting 200 supporters to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. This operation, far more than a simple sponsorship, represents a strategic investment in national morale and a masterclass in community-centric brand building.
The first contingent of supporters departed Ouagadougou on Friday, December 26, 2025, bound for the tournament. This move is the latest chapter in a nearly two-decade partnership between the telecommunications giant and the Burkinabè national football team, the Étalons. The scale is significant: Orange Burkina Faso is committing to fully fund the entire experience—airfare, accommodation, local transport, meals, and match tickets—for 200 fans throughout the group stage. This level of comprehensive support is rare in corporate sponsorships, which often focus solely on branding or partial funding.
Charles Bazié, Digital Manager at Orange Burkina Faso, frames the initiative as a catalyst for national unity. “Our two-decade support for the Étalons is a covenant with the Burkinabè people,” he explains. “This operation is engineered to create a ‘sacred union’ that transcends borders. We are mobilizing not just fans in Burkina, but also connecting with the powerful diaspora community in Morocco and across Africa. The goal is to generate an audible, visible wave of national pride that the players can feel on the pitch, transforming stadiums in Morocco into a home-field advantage.”
The timing is tactically astute. The initial group of fans has a critical mission: to provide a vocal twelfth-man advantage during the high-stakes clash against Algeria’s Fennecs on December 28th. In tournaments like AFCON, where margins for error are slim, such organized fan support can have a tangible psychological impact, potentially swaying momentum in tight matches.
Also read: AFCON Morocco 2025 | First Victory for the Étalons: “We Make an Entire People Proud” (Issoufou Dayo)
This initiative exemplifies a shift from transactional sponsorship to holistic partnership. By removing all financial barriers, Orange is ensuring that support is drawn from a cross-section of society—not just those who can afford it. This generates authentic, grassroots goodwill and user-generated content that no traditional advertisement could match. The company is effectively co-creating a national narrative of support, positioning itself as an integral thread in the social fabric of Burkina Faso.
The beneficiaries highlight the operation’s profound impact. Abdoul Aziz Tiemtoré, an event promoter, noted, “Orange’s commitment sets a benchmark for corporate responsibility. They are not just putting their logo on a billboard; they are actively constructing memories and fostering national pride. This creates a deep, emotional loyalty that goes beyond customer satisfaction.”
Web-humorist Momo l’intellectuel, another beneficiary, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the unique experiential value. “This is access to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s about being part of a collective national moment. The shared journey, the camaraderie, the roar in the stadium—these are intangible benefits that Orange is facilitating, which strengthens our collective identity as Burkinabè.”
In essence, Orange Burkina Faso’s fan airlift is a multifaceted strategy. It is a morale operation for the team, a unity project for the nation, and a legacy-building endeavor for the brand. It demonstrates how a corporation can leverage its resources to play a pivotal role in a country’s cultural and sporting life, achieving brand objectives not through interruption, but through meaningful participation and empowerment.
Aminata Catherine SANOU
Burkina 24