The Africa Cup of Nations has been overshadowed by tragedy following the death of the son of Burkina Faso midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki, a devastating development that has sent shockwaves through the tournament.
Aziz Ki is currently on international duty with the Stallions, with the news emerging while he remains part of Burkina Faso’s squad at the continental showpiece.
His club side, Wydad Athletic Club, confirmed the heartbreaking loss in an official statement, offering condolences and support to the player and his family during the difficult period.
“With deep sorrow and sadness, Wydad AC extends its sincerest condolences to our player Aziz Ki on the passing of his son,” the statement read. “We ask God Almighty to have mercy on the deceased, grant him a place in Paradise, and give his family and loved ones patience and solace.”
The tragedy comes just days after Aziz Ki played a key role in Burkina Faso’s progression to the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.
On New Year’s Eve, the 29-year-old featured prominently as the Stallions sealed qualification from Group E with a 2–0 victory over Sudan.
Aziz Ki provided the assist for the opening goal as Burkina Faso secured a top-two finish in the group and advanced to the last 16.
Burkina Faso concluded the group stage with two wins and one defeat. They opened their campaign with a 2–1 victory over Equatorial Guinea before suffering a narrow 1–0 loss to group winners Algeria.
The decisive win over Sudan proved enough to finish runners-up in the section, with both sides level on points going into their final group match.
The Stallions are now preparing for a daunting round-of-16 encounter against Ivory Coast, scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, as they seek to progress further in the competition amid the emotional weight of the news surrounding one of their key players.
