Dango Ouattara: Why Bournemouth winger puts faith before football

Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara credits his Islamic faith for grounding him, guiding his football journey, and thriving during Ramadan fasting.

Mosques are more than just places of worship for Dango Ouattara—they are his anchor a refuge that keeps him steady as he navigates life in the Premier League.

The Bournemouth winger, now enjoying a breakout season, says his Islamic faith is what drives him, keeps him grounded, and helps him perform at his best.

At just 23, the Burkinabe international has already made a name for himself, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances this season, including a stunning hat-trick against Nottingham Forest.

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But for Ouattara, football always comes second.

"For me, faith comes first. It comes before football," he told BBC Sport Africa during an interview at his local mosque in Poole.

Faith as Foundation

Ouattara is a devout Muslim who prays five times a day and surrounds himself with calm, discipline, and gratitude.

He sees his faith as a tool not only for personal growth, but for evaluating his actions both on and off the pitch.

"It allows us to refocus on ourselves, to see what we've done well and what we haven't been able to do well," he said.

"It also allows us to correct ourselves in society too. It allows us to stay on the right path."

He often uses words like “calm” and “stable” to describe the impact Islam has had on his life. Soft-spoken and humble, he showed up early to the interview, dressed in all white, and politely asked to pray before sitting down to talk.

"Faith allows me to overcome many challenges, to respect others, to respect choices and religions too," he said.

"Whether it's on the pitch, off it with friends or even with my family, it allows me to be calm in my daily life."

Settling through spirituality

Ouattara arrived on the south coast of England via French side Lorient in January 2023 for £20 million. At the time, he became just the second Burkinabe to play in the Premier League after Bertrand Traore.

The transition was not easy. Still not fully comfortable speaking English, Ouattara says faith made the difference in adapting to a new environment.

"My agent and I were able to find the mosque, so I started to get back into my routine," he explained.

"And as I came to the mosque, everything went well for me with the football."

He believes the support system—both at the mosque and at the club—has played a massive part in his growth.

"It helps because when you find yourself in another town, having the community shows that you're not alone. You have the opportunity to pray with other people, to meet new people. It keeps us focused on religion."

Fasting and Football

As Ramadan draws to a close, Ouattara reflects on balancing faith with professional sport. He says the toughest part isn’t going without food—it’s the lack of water and sleep.

"I wouldn't say that Ramadan is difficult, it's more mental, because personally I'm used to doing it," he said. "It's more the lack of water. And given that you have to wake up at unusual times to eat, that's more tiring."

To manage fatigue, Ouattara has developed a schedule that includes early meals, prayer, and strategic naps.

"I wake up at 4.30am, I do my ablutions and I've already got the food which has already been prepared by the club chef," he said.

"Then after the sessions I say my prayers and sleep for another hour. So the fact that I rest each time means I recover better."

Despite being the only Muslim in Bournemouth’s squad, he’s far from isolated. His teammates and coaching staff show support and ask how he's feeling.

"The initiative of the Premier League is to be congratulated because it's not easy to play while fasting," he added. "We hope that it will continue."

For Dango Ouattara, prayer and purpose go hand in hand—making him not only a player fans can believe in, but one who plays with unwavering belief of his own.