AFCON 2025 offers Burkina Faso a reset after World Cup blow | OneFootball

Denied a crack at the 2026 World Cup intercontinental play-offs after a mid-qualification rule change in Africa, Burkina Faso have turned to AFCON 2025, which runs from 21 December to 18 January.

According to L'Équipe, finishing second in their group with 21 points behind Egypt did not secure a spot. The Stallions expected to join Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon in a mid-November mini-tournament in Rabat for an intercontinental berth, before CAF intervened and Nigeria took it by a single goal.

The call was seen within the camp as unjust. Captain Steeve Yago vented on social media, arguing wins over the group’s weakest side were discounted while Nigeria had not beaten Zimbabwe, sarcastically thanking CAF and FIFA and hinting he would soon study the game to criticise accordingly.

Retired forward Alain Traoré, capped 65 times with 21 goals, said the disappointment was huge. He felt the play-offs would have been ideal preparation and a mindset boost before a strong AFCON.

He added that, once the format was understood, a first World Cup felt within reach and the group even celebrated, believing their points tally guaranteed involvement. Bertrand Traoré, now at Sunderland and captain of the Stallions, called Yves Bissouma urging Mali to beat Madagascar so they would not be overtaken.

Attention now switches to topping Group E, which features Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan. In Traoré’s view, the squad is competitive, with experienced leaders in key roles, and if fully fit they can face anyone. Head coach Brama Traoré, in post since March 2024, has the chance to prove it with the World Cup setback as fuel.

Source: L'Équipe