Stéphane Aziz Ki rejoined the Burkina Faso squad on Monday evening, less than 24 hours before their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 meeting with Ivory Coast, after briefly leaving the camp for urgent family reasons.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who plays his club football with Wydad Casablanca, had stepped away from the Stallions’ base earlier in the week following the death of a close relative he regarded as a son.
With the permission of the Burkina Faso Football Federation, Aziz Ki travelled to be with his family and was therefore absent from the final phase of preparation for one of the tournament’s most keenly awaited fixtures.
On the eve of the match at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, however, the playmaker made an unexpected return.
He arrived back in Morocco on Monday and went straight into training with his team-mates at the stadium’s Annex 2 facility, re-entering the group at a moment when every detail matters.
His presence, even after such a short interruption, is significant.
Over the past few years Aziz Ki has established himself as one of Burkina Faso’s most influential performers, valued for his ability to link midfield and attack, unlock tight defences and dictate the tempo in high-pressure games.
In a squad that thrives on collective effort and tactical discipline, his composure and imagination offer a different dimension.
The timing of his comeback adds further weight to the occasion.
Burkina Faso face defending champions Ivory Coast on Tuesday, January 6 at 8pm, in what is shaping up to be one of the standout ties of the round of 16.
For the Stallions, the meeting with the Elephants is more than a knockout fixture; it is a chance to underline their ambitions on the continental stage and to extend a run that has already captured the imagination of supporters back home.
Aziz Ki’s brief absence had inevitably raised doubts about whether he would feature again in the tournament, particularly given the deeply personal nature of the tragedy he endured.
His decision to return so swiftly, and to place himself back at the disposal of the coaching staff, has been interpreted within the camp as a gesture of resilience and commitment to the group.
While no official word has been given on whether he will start against Ivory Coast, his mere availability offers the technical staff greater flexibility as they weigh up tactical options for the high-stakes encounter.
Against an Ivorian side rich in experience and pedigree, Burkina Faso will need both discipline and creativity in equal measure.
For his team-mates, Aziz Ki’s reappearance has provided a timely emotional lift.
The Stallions have spoken throughout the competition about unity and shared purpose, and his return embodies those values in a very real way.
At a moment when the tournament moves into its most unforgiving phase, his story adds a human dimension to what is already a fiercely contested derby.
As kickoff approaches in Marrakech, Burkina Faso do so with renewed belief.
Whether or not Aziz Ki takes to the pitch, his presence in the camp alone reinforces the sense that the Stallions are prepared to confront adversity together in pursuit of a place in the quarter-finals.
