Burkinabe defender Rachid Gnanou earns first Stallions call-up after Nasser Djiga injury

Burkina Faso coach Amir Abdou has handed Burkinabe defender Rachid Gnanou his first senior international call-up after Nasser Djiga was ruled out through injury ahead of the June FIFA international window.

The 21-year-old IF Gnistan defender has been drafted into the Stallions squad as Burkina Faso prepare for friendly matches against Russia and Belarus on June 5 and June 9, 2026.

Gnanou’s selection comes at a difficult moment for the national team, with several important players unavailable for the two matches.

Captain Bertrand Traoré, goalkeeper Hervé Koffi, defender Issa Kabore, forward Lassina Traoré and Djiga are all set to miss the fixtures.

Djiga’s injury has now opened the door for one of Burkina Faso’s emerging young defenders to step into the senior squad for the first time.

The Burkinabe defender arrives in the national team in strong form following an impressive run with Finnish side IF Gnistan in the Veikkausliiga.

Gnanou has started all seven league matches since the restart of the campaign and has also contributed one goal during that period.

His performances have continued to attract attention after he was voted IF Gnistan’s best player last year, underlining his growing influence at club level.

Those displays appear to have convinced Abdou to reward the young defender with an opportunity at international level as Burkina Faso continue reshaping their squad ahead of future competitions.

At just 21 years old, Gnanou is now set to experience the Stallions environment for the first time and could benefit from sharing the dressing room with experienced players already established in the national setup.

The young defender is also expected to learn from senior figures such as French-Senegalese defender Edmond Tapsoba as he adapts to the demands of international football.

Despite the injury setbacks affecting the squad, Burkina Faso will hope the upcoming friendlies provide an opportunity for emerging players like Gnanou to prove themselves on the international stage.