2026 World Cup qualifiers: Burkina Faso squad announced for Sierra Leone and Ethiopia clashes | OneFootball

2026 World Cup qualifiers: Burkina Faso squad announced for Sierra Leone and Ethiopia clashes

The Burkina Faso national team’s head coach has unveiled a 25-man squad for the final two rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Cyriaque Irie, who has netted two goals for the Stallions, will not feature this time. The Freiburg winger from the Bundesliga is sidelined due to illness. The national coach confirmed, stating, "Irie was discharged from hospital just two or three days ago after suffering from malaria".

Arsène Kouassi continues to face "administrative issues." Although called up in September for fixtures against Djibouti and Egypt, the Lorient left-back was unable to participate for the same reasons.

Papo Konaté from Riga FC in Latvia and Bazimo Clodis from Africa Sports of Abidjan are also missing compared to the previous squad list.

Return of Stephane Aziz Ki

No new faces have been called up in this selection. However, some familiar names are back in the national ranks.

The standout returnee is Stephane Aziz Ki. The attacking midfielder from Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca hasn’t been called up since January 2025 during the international friendlies.

Mohamed Ouédraogo and Ismaïla Ouédraogo are also back in coach Brama Traoré’s squad, joining mainstays Bertrand Traoré, Edmond Tapsoba, Issoufou Dayo, Hervé Koffi, Issa Kaboré, and others.

In rounds nine and ten of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Burkina Faso will travel first to Monrovia, Liberia, on October 8 to face Sierra Leone, before hosting Ethiopia (on the 12th at 19:00 GMT) at the 4 August Stadium in Ouagadougou. Trailing group leaders Egypt by five points, Brama Traoré and his men face slim chances of direct qualification. But, as Bertrand Traoré put it, "even if we have to go through the playoffs," the squad is determined to win both matches, which also serve as preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for December in Morocco.

The 25-man squad selected by Brama Traoré for rounds nine and ten of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers:

03 GoalkeepersHervé Koffi (Angers, France)Kilian Nikiema (ADO, Netherlands)Ladji Sanou (Al-Merrikh, Sudan)

08 DefendersIssa Kaboré (Manchester City, England)Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol, Cyprus)Mohamed Ouédraogo (SCR Altach, Austria)Rachid Ayindé (Jong, Belgian Second Division)Edmond Tapsoba (Leverkusen, Germany)Nasser Diga (Rangers, Scotland)Issouf Dayo (Umm Salal, Qatar)Adama Nagalo (PSV, Netherlands)