Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore has returned to the national team for the first time since November after recovering from a knee injury.

The Ajax forward headlines a 25-man squad named by coach Brama Traoré for the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau later this month.

The squad also sees the return of several key players, including first-choice goalkeeper Hervé Koffi (Lens), defender Mohamed Ali Yabré (PSV Eindhoven), and midfielder Ismahila Ouédraogo (Atromitos), all of whom were absent in recent international windows.

Coach Brama Traoré will be looking to build momentum as Burkina Faso push for qualification to their first-ever FIFA World Cup.

The Stallions currently sit in a competitive qualifying group and will aim to take maximum points in the double-header against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau.

Alongside Bertrand Traoré, other major returnees include defender Adamo Nagalo (PSV Eindhoven), midfielder Ibrahim Blati Touré (Pyramids FC), and winger Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth). 

Their presence bolsters a team that struggled with absences in previous fixtures.

Goalkeeper Hervé Koffi, who has been Burkina Faso’s first-choice shot-stopper for several years, is back to take command between the posts.

His return provides stability in goal as the Stallions prepare for two crucial matches in their qualifying campaign.

New Faces in the Squad

Three players have earned their first national team call-ups. Mohamed Zougrana (MC Alger) joins the squad for the first time, while France-based duo Arsène Kouassi (Ajaccio) and Cyriaque Irié (Troyes) also receive their maiden selections.

Their inclusion highlights the coach’s intent to expand the talent pool and test fresh options ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Josué Tiendrébéogo (Annecy), who made his international debut last November, keeps his place in the squad. Established names such as Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol), and Cédric Badolo (Spartak Trnava) also feature prominently.

Aziz Ki Left Out Again

Notably absent from the squad is Stéphane Aziz Ki (Young Africans), who is left out for the second consecutive international break.

His omission comes after he made headlines following his marriage to Tanzanian singer Hamisa Mobetto. The reasons for his continued absence remain undisclosed by the coach.

Squad Balance and Strength in Key Areas

Burkina Faso’s squad features a mix of experience and emerging talent across all positions. In goal, Koffi is supported by Sofiane Ouédraogo (AS Vita Club) and Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag).

The defence is led by Bundesliga star Edmond Tapsoba, alongside Wolverhampton’s Yacouba Djiga, Werder Bremen’s Issa Kaboré, and RS Berkane’s Issoufou Dayo.

The midfield is packed with creative and defensive options, with Blati Touré, Cédric Badolo, and Mohamed Zougrana expected to play crucial roles.

In attack, Traoré’s return strengthens an already talented frontline, which also includes Dango Ouattara and Mohamed Konaté (Al-Riyadh).

Burkina Faso will look to make a statement in these qualifiers as they continue their quest for a historic place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Burkina Faso Squad

Goalkeepers: Hervé Koffi (Lens, France), Sofiane Ouédraogo (AS Vita Club, DRC), Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands)

Defenders: Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Yacouba Djiga (Wolverhampton, England), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Adamo Nagalo (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Issa Kaboré (Werder Bremen, Germany), Mohamed Yabré (ASEC Mimosas, Ivory Coast), Arsène Kouassi (Ajaccio, France), Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkane, Morocco)

Midfielders: Mohamed Zougrana (MC Alger, Algeria), Ismahila Ouédraogo (Pansekairos, Greece), Saïdou Simporé (Al Masry, Egypt), Ibrahim Blati Touré (Pyramids FC, Egypt), Cédric Badolo (Spartak Trnava, Slovakia), Raouf Memel Dao (Sonabel, Burkina Faso), Josué Tiendrébéogo (Annecy, France), Salou Dramane (Hapoel Haifa, Israel)

Forwards: Dango Ouattara (AFC Bournemouth, England), Hassane Bandé (HJK Helsinki, Finland), Cyriaque Irié (Troyes, France), Lassina Traoré (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Mohamed Konaté (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Bertrand Traoré (Ajax, Netherlands)

-CAF

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Political and economic tensions between the United States and its 2026 World Cup co-hosts Canada and Mexico will make the tournament more exciting, U.S. President Donald Trump said after signing an executive order to create a task force for the event.

Speaking in the Oval Office alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Trump said the task force, which he will chair, would co-ordinate with federal agencies in planning, organising and executing the 48-team global soccer tournament.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration imposed across-the-board 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico before announcing on Thursday a one-month reprieve for both countries on goods compliant under a North American trade pact.

When asked about the World Cup in light of the current trade tensions between the three nations, Trump said on Friday, “I think it’s going to make it more exciting.”

“Tension is a good thing, it makes it much more exciting.”

The exemptions for the two largest U.S. trading partners, expire on April 2, when Trump has threatened to impose a global regime of reciprocal tariffs on all U.S. trading partners.

The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The expanded tournament will feature 104 matches instead of the previous 64 games, including an additional knockout round.

-Reuters

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Equatorial Guinea’s record goalscorer Emilio Nsue has been officially cleared to play for the country by Fifa – more than a decade after the former Spain youth international made his senior debut for the African nation.

There was widespread surprise in May last year when football’s world governing body handed Nsue, now 35, a six-month ban, deeming him ineligible to play in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

At the time, FIFA said it was “comfortably satisfied” that Nsue, who won the golden boot at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, had never received clearance to formalise his switch from Spain.

But that changed on Wednesday when FIFA approved a second request by Equatorial Guinea’s football federation (Feguifut) – 12 years after its first attempt.

“FIFA’s decision has been very positive for us and for all the people of Equatorial Guinea,” Feguifut president Venancio Tomas Ndong Micha told BBC Sport Africa.

“After so many years, and months, we were able to show that Emilio was eligible and finally Fifa showed justice in this case.”

FIFA’s shock ruling last year came 43 games after Nsue’s 2013 debut for Equatorial Guinea, a side he has often captained and for whom he has scored a record 22 goals.

After he struck twice in World Cup qualifying wins against Namibia and Liberia in late 2023, FIFA ruled that both games would be forfeited 3-0.

Feguifut was also fined 150,000 Swiss francs ($164,000, £129,000) for fielding the player, who had previously taken part in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualifying campaigns without incident.

The second – and ultimately successful – bid to change Nsue’s allegiance was launched shortly after his six-month ban ended, while a Feguifut appeal last year resulted in the fine being reduced to 50,000 Swiss francs, with the remaining 100,000 suspended for two years.

“I am overjoyed to be able to be back with my national team and to compete for the flag and people of Equatorial Guinea,” Nsue told BBC Sport Africa.

“Now it is time to focus on our upcoming qualification matches for the 2026 World Cup, and hopefully we can make every Equatoguinean proud of us.”

-BBC

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