AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Burkina Faso face Benin in West African battle

Burkina Faso begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign at home against neighbours Benin on Friday, with both sides looking to make an early statement in Group F.

The Stallions host the Cheetahs on 25 September, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT, as the two West African nations begin a six-match qualifying campaign for next year’s tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The fixture is one of the opening matches of the 2027 AFCON qualifying group stage and carries added importance given the compact nature of the schedule. Burkina Faso will face the Central African Republic in Casablanca three days later, while Benin will meet Mauritania on 29 September.

Burkina Faso looking to make home advantage count

Burkina Faso go into the contest with a squad that combines established internationals with a number of players being given their first opportunity at senior level.

Coach Amir Abdou has included four newcomers in his 25-man squad: Ismaël Maïga, Julien Bationo, Mamoutou Ouédraogo and Axel Taonsa. The coach has nevertheless retained several of the experienced players who have become central to the Stallions’ recent campaigns.

Among those senior figures is Edmond Tapsoba, the Bayer Leverkusen defender who is expected to provide leadership at the heart of the Burkina Faso defence.

Nasser Djiga, Issa Kaboré, Dango Ouattara and Lassina Traoré are also among the established names selected by Abdou, giving Burkina Faso a mixture of experience and emerging talent.

With the first two qualifying matches being played within a few days, Abdou will want his side to start positively on home soil before the trip to Casablanca.

Benin arrive with new attacking option

Benin, meanwhile, head into the encounter under coach Gernot Rohr, who has also used the latest squad selection to introduce fresh attacking options.

One of the main talking points is the inclusion of striker Joseph Ede Oloko, who has received his first senior international call-up after an outstanding season in Latvia.

Oloko has scored 26 goals and provided six assists in 30 matches for Liepaja across all competitions this season, earning his place in Rohr’s 25-man squad.

The striker will now have the opportunity to translate that club form to the international stage, although the trip to Burkina Faso represents a demanding first test.

Rohr’s side will also have little time to recover after the opening fixture, with Benin scheduled to host Mauritania on 29 September before travelling to Argentina for a friendly against the world champions on 6 October.

A key opening fixture in Group F

The meeting is part of Group F, which also contains Mauritania and the Central African Republic.

Mauritania host the Central African Republic in the group’s other opening fixture on 24 September, meaning the result in Ouagadougou could immediately shape the early standings.

The qualifying format gives the opening matches considerable significance. The 48 participating nations have been divided into 12 groups, with the top two teams in groups without a co-host progressing to the AFCON finals. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are automatically qualified as hosts, although they are still taking part in the qualifying competition.

The finals are scheduled to take place from 19 June to 17 July 2027, bringing the continent’s premier international tournament back to East Africa.

For Burkina Faso and Benin, however, attention is firmly on the opening 90 minutes.

The Stallions will hope their established defensive core and home advantage can provide the platform for victory, while Benin will look to Rohr’s experience and the attacking threat of players such as Oloko to cause problems.

With the two sides separated by geography but familiar with the demands of West African football, Friday’s encounter promises to be a competitive start to Group F.

Match: Burkina Faso v Benin

Date: Friday, 25 September 2026

Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

Venue: Burkina Faso