SEGOU, Mali, -- Burkina Faso striker Alassane Ouedraogo said his team were bracing themselves for an explosive battle in their Group B decider against Ghana on Wednesday.

"It's going to be war," said the Germany-based Ouedraogo, who at 21 is one of his team's most experienced players.

"We either win or lose this game because a draw will eliminate us from the competition. And since we don't want to go home so early, we have to do our maximum to win.

"This is a very important game for both teams and because of what is at stake, it could either be a good game of football or a very scrappy one," he said. The Stallions of Burkina Faso have surprised many with their performances so far in the championship, where they were regarded as the weakest team in Group B.

They held World Cup-bound South Africa to a goalless draw in their opening match and only lost 2-1 to Morocco in the dying minutes. "I have never considered us the underdogs in this group," FC Cologne forward Ouedraogo told AFP.

"Like the other teams, we can also boast good players who are playing at clubs in Europe. Oumar Barro has established himself in Denmark with Brondby, Dagano (Beli Moumouni) is doing well with Genk in Belgium and Mamadou Tall has grown in confidence since moving to Turkey," he said.

"Burkina Faso are no longer the team you beat 4-0 or 5-0. We have made steady progress since we reached the semi-finals of the Nations Cup in 1998."

The former schoolboy international, who spent four seasons in Belgium with Charleroi, has also been impressed with the fighting spirit of 17-year-old midfielder Mady Panandetiguiri, who shone in the match against Morocco.

"The boy has a very big heart. Against Morocco he showed he could take on additional responsibilities and even though he was playing as a midfielder he was often around the goal area of the other team," said Ouedraogo.

Burkina Faso are placed bottom of Group B with a point from two matches but a win over Ghana Wednesday could well propel them to only their second quarter-final appearance in this championship.