Burkina Faso will be without captain Bertrand Traoré for their opening matches against Senegal and Malawi in the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Head coach Brama Traoré announced his squad for the two fixtures, sticking largely with the familiar names who have been pivotal to the national team’s recent campaigns.
Key players such as Edmond Tapsoba, Adamo Nagalo, Nasser Djiga, and Stéphane Aziz Ki have all been retained, while Issa Kaboré and goalkeeper Hervé Koffi mark their return to the fold.
However, the notable omission of Bertrand Traoré has raised eyebrows, particularly given the forward’s recent resurgence at Ajax.
The decision to leave out the team’s captain, who has shown a remarkable return to form since his move to the Dutch club, has left many fans and pundits questioning the rationale behind this choice.
His absence is expected to be a significant blow to the Stallions as they face the formidable task of opening their qualifying campaign against the reigning African champions.
Burkina Faso will begin their AFCON qualifiers against Senegal on September 6, 2024, in Dakar, before traveling to Bamako to play Malawi on September 10
Both fixtures are crucial for the Stallions as they aim to secure a strong start in their quest for a place in the tournament.
La liste des Étalons 🇧🇫 pour affronter le Sénégal et le Malawi sans Bertrand Traoré, elim CAN Maroc 2025 pic.twitter.com/dc6NNOUPfB
— Bassalia Ouattara🆕 ( 1er compte suspendu) (@SaliaOuattara21) August 29, 2024
