Burkina Faso defender Mohamed Ouédraogo faces lengthy lay-off after injury setback

Lyon defender Mohamed Ouédraogo has suffered a major injury setback, with the Burkina Faso international expected to spend several months on the sidelines.

According to reports, the 23-year-old left-back sustained a cruciate ligament injury in his knee during training, dealing a significant blow to Lyon’s squad depth at a crucial stage of the season.

Ouédraogo joined Lyon from Sparta Prague during the summer transfer window, arriving with the expectation of providing competition and additional cover at left-back. However, he has found regular playing time difficult to secure since making the move to France.

The Burkina Faso international has featured just four times for Lyon across all competitions so far, starting only two of those matches. He has had to compete with Abner and experienced Argentina international Nicolas Tagliafico for a place in the starting XI.

Despite his limited involvement, Ouédraogo remained an important option for head coach Paulo Fonseca, particularly with Lyon competing on multiple fronts this season, including their UEFA Europa League campaign.

The defender travelled to join up with the Burkina Faso national team during the current international break but did not feature in any of their matches.

His time away with the national side has now been followed by the serious injury setback, with examinations confirming damage to the cruciate ligament in his knee.

The nature of the injury means Ouédraogo is expected to be unavailable for several months, although Lyon are yet to establish a definitive return date.

There is also uncertainty over whether the former Sparta Prague player will be able to return before the end of the season, with his recovery expected to depend on the severity of the ligament damage and his rehabilitation process.

The injury is particularly frustrating for Ouédraogo as he was hoping to gradually establish himself at Lyon after making the switch from the Czech Republic during the summer.

His absence will also leave Lyon with fewer options at left-back, potentially increasing the workload on Abner and Tagliafico as the French club continues to balance domestic competition with its European commitments.