Burkina Faso head coach Hubert Velud has named his 27-man squad that will represent the country at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The West African country is making their 13th appearance in the continental showpiece next year as the tournament is set to be staged in West Africa.
Experienced Aston Villa attacker Bertrand Traore headlines the squad as the captain alongside Premier League duo of Issa Kabore of Luton Town and Dango Ouattara of Bournemouth who became the second Burkinabe to score in the Premier League following his blockbuster move from Lorient.
Edmond Tapsoba of Bayern Leverkusen who has been part of the success story of the Bundesliga’s leaders this season also appears in the squad.
The highly-rated central defender was named among CAF Best 11 during the recently held CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco.
Conspicuously missing is AC Ajaccio’s Cyrille Bayala, who, together with Blati Toure and Adama Guira, formed a perfect midfield trio in the last Afcon in Cameroon while experienced goalkeeper Herve Koffi will lead the charge in the post.
The Stallions have enjoyed some very good finishes in the Afcon over the years as they have finished among the last 4 in their recent four appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations.
They were 2nd in 2013 in South Africa, 3rd in 2017 in Gabon and 4th after the last Afcon in Cameroon 2021 only failing to make it past group stages in 2015 in Equatorial Guinea and missing out in 2019 in Egypt.
The West African nation going into this competition will hope to replicate good performances they displayed recently in the AFCON as there is evidence to prove with their recent outings especially when the competition is going to be staged in the West African subregion in Ivory Coast as they failed to appear the last time this part of the continent hosted the competition which was Ghana 2008.
With Velud as their coach, they have an experienced person in the dugout as Burkina Faso is his third side in international football. He has previously been with Togo and Sudan.
On the club side, the French manager had some stints with TP Mazembe, Etoile du Sahel, CS Constantine, JS Kabylie, and USM Algers.
He is a man Burkinabes can trust to deliver good performance in Ivory Coast.
The Stallions are paired in Group D with two-time champions Algeria, one of 2006 World Cup African representatives Angola, and fellow West Africans Mauritania.
They will open their account on January 16 against Mauritania and four days’ time against Algeria all in Bouake before making a final trip to Yamossoukro, where they face Angola on January 23.
Here is the full 27-man squad.
GOALKEEPERS
Herve Koffi (Sporting Charleroi/Belgium)
Hilel Konate (Valenciennes/France)
Kilian Nikiema (Ado Den Haag/Netherlands)
Sebastien Tou (CE Sadabell/Sapin)
DEFENDERS
Issa Kabore (Luton Town/England), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol/Cyprus), Issoufou Dayo(RS Berkane/Morocco), Nasser Djiga (FK Crvena Zvezda/Serbia), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayern Leverkusen/Germany), Adamo Nagalo (Nordsjaelland/Denmark), Abdoul Razack Guibre(Reggiana/Italy), Valentin Nouma(AS Douanes/Burkina Faso)
MIDFIELDERS
Blati Toure (Pyramids FC/ Egypt), Adama Guira (Racing Roja), Draman Salou (FC Noah/Armenia), Ismahila Ouedrago (Panserraikkos/Greece), Sacha Banse (Standard Lierge/Belgium), Gustavo Sangare (Quevilly Roen/France), Stephan Aziz Ki (Young Africans/Tanzania)
FORWARDS
Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa/England), Cheick Djibril Ouattara (RS Berkane/Morocco), Hassane Bande (HJK Helsinki/Finland), Mohammed Konate (Akhmat Grozny/Russia), Abdoul Faisal Tapsoba (Sheriff Tiraspol/Moldova), Cedric Badolo (Sheriff Tiraspol/Moldova), Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth/England), Mamady Alex Bange (Quevilly Rouen/France).
