The Stallions of Burkina Faso are back to full strength for important 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in March after head coach Brama Traoré announced his squad for clashes against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau.
Most notably, star playmaker and team leader Bertrand Traoré is back to full health as the Stallions look to secure second place in Group A and apply pressure to group leaders Egypt. Burkina Faso are one point behind Guinea-Bissau in third place and five points back of Egypt who have a firm hold on top spot.
2026 World Cup Qualifying: Group A table (4 matches played)
Points | |
Egypt | 10 |
Guinea-Bissau | 6 |
Burkina Faso | 5 |
Sierra Leone | 5 |
Ethiopia | 3 |
Djibouti | 1 |
The group winner qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Four of the group runners-up qualify for a playoff to determine Africa's representative at the intercontinental qualifying playoff.
Traoré is joined by other luminaries including AFC Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara as well as powerful striker Mohamed Konaté of Saudi Pro League side Al Riyadh. Central defensive anchors Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkane) and attacking right back Issa Kaboré are also available to give the Burkinabé team a strong balance.
It is also important to note the arrival of MC Alger midfielder Mohamed Zoungrana, who previously competed for Ivory Coast at the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN). The deep lying central player's quality is well known in African club football from his time with MCA as well as Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas, making the 23-year-old a potentially massive recruitment for coach Brama Traoré.
Goalkeeper Hervé Koffi also adds more experience to a strong squad that has endured untimely injuries over the past year. Burkina Faso will host minnows Djibouti in Morocco on March 21 before traveling to Bissau for a critical fixture on March 24.
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