Burkina Faso will be without three crucial players when they face Malawi on Monday, November 18, in their final Group L fixture of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. Despite already securing qualification, the Stallions aim to finish their campaign on a high note.
Following a narrow defeat to Senegal in the battle for the group’s top spot, Burkina Faso is looking to bounce back as they travel to Lilongwe.
The team departed from Bamako on Friday, with their arrival in Malawi expected early Saturday morning ahead of the 1 p.m. GMT kickoff on Monday.
Injury Blow for the Stallions
Coach Brama Traoré will lead a squad of 22 players after being forced to exclude three pivotal members of his team due to injuries.
The Burkina Faso Football Federation (FBF) confirmed the absences on Friday, stating, “Edmond Tapsoba, Issa Kaboré, and Blati Touré are injured and will not be part of the Malawi expedition.”
While Kaboré and Touré have returned to their respective clubs for recovery, Tapsoba remains in Ouagadougou, where he will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury.
These absences present a challenge for the Stallions as they aim to close out the qualifiers with a convincing performance.
Group Dynamics and Malawi’s Motivation
Burkina Faso currently sit in second place in Group L with 10 points from five matches, trailing leaders Senegal.
Their opponents, Malawi, have endured a difficult campaign and are already eliminated, having collected just one point.
However, the Flames will look to salvage some pride by securing a positive result in their final group match.
Despite the Stallions’ depleted squad, Coach Traoré’s side is expected to rely on their depth and experience to secure a win in Lilongwe.
The match offers an opportunity for Burkina Faso to maintain momentum heading into the AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco.
The encounter will test the resilience of Burkina Faso without some of their star players while offering Malawi a chance to end their qualifiers on a strong note.
