As he competes at Afcon 2025 with Burkina Faso, Dango Ouattara says Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa inspired him to become the latest African to star for Brentford.
Dango Ouattara says Brentford's former African forwards Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo have influenced his promising start as the club's record signing.
Ouattara has become the latest African to impress with the Bees since arriving from Bournemouth for £42 million in August, joining in between the departures of 2024-25 top scorer Mbeumo to Manchester United and his prolific partner Wissa to Newcastle.
"I was lucky to get to know him a bit, which is a plus," Ouattara told BBC Sport Africa when asked about DR Congo international Wissa.
"He told me that it's a club where the staff are very close to the players. Now I can see it for myself."
Wissa, 29, produced 19 goals and four assists in last season's Premier League before joining the Magpies for an initial £50m at the end of the summer transfer window.
But injury has limited his game time this season, meaning he has not travelled to Morocco for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Mbeumo, who is part of Cameroon's squad, contributed 20 league goals and seven assists during his final season at the Gtech Community Stadium before moving to Old Trafford for £65m in July.
"Whether you're African or not, [they're] inspiring," Ouattara reflected.
"Wissa managed to score almost 20 goals without a penalty [last season]. That's an inspiration to all strikers."
The talismanic Mbeumo exited less than a month after head coach Thomas Frank left for Tottenham, ending a seven-year spell in charge which included promotion from the Championship in 2021 and two top-10 Premier League finishes.
Successor Keith Andrews had been tipped by some experts to struggle with a weakened squad in his first managerial role, but Ouattara has praised the former Ireland international after heading to the 2025 Afcon with his club in a comfortable midtable position.
"He's someone who is genuinely [attentive]," said Ouattara. "That means a lot to me.
"Even when I arrived - before even playing - he was there [for me]. It's something I really appreciated.
"Whether it's the coach or the entire team, they're close to the players. For me, it's a good club for a player to be at."
'Everyone has a role to play' at Afcon
Only Manchester City's Erling Haaland has eclipsed Brentford's Brazilian striker Igor Thiago's 11 goals in this season's Premier League, while Ouattara has also played an important role by scoring three times and winning four penalties – the most of any player in the division.
Burkina Faso international Ouattara is now poised to feature at a third successive Afcon, where he will hope for a greater impact after an injury restricted him to one start during his country's run to the last 16 in 2023.
While at French club Lorient, Ouattara was part of the Stallions side which beat Gabon on penalties to reach the quarter-finals in 2021 and scored the only goal in their surprise win over Tunisia in the last eight, although his late dismissal in that game ruled him out of their semi-final defeat to eventual champions Senegal.
"There are people who have been here much longer and who have played at more Afcons, who are more experienced than me," said the 23-year-old.
"There are some playing their first Afcon, some their second. Everyone has a role to play."
One member of the Burkina Faso squad who has a key role is Sunderland forward Bertrand Traore, the Stallions skipper.
The 30-year-old is approaching 100 caps for his country and Ouattara says his quiet authority is important.
"If he has something to tell you, he'll tell you. If there's something you could correct, he'll try to get you to correct it.
"He's someone who is calm. He speaks when he has something positive to contribute. If it's not necessary to speak, he won't."
Ouattara could face former Bee Mbeumo as early as the last-16 stage in Morocco, with Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka's Nigeria potential opponents later in the knockout stage.
Burkina Faso start against Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca on Wednesday (12:30 GMT), the same day Group E opponents Algeria and Sudan face off in Rabat (15:00 GMT).
Category: General Sports
