Burkina Faso's AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Squad: Abdou Hands Four Players Their Chance
Photo: CAF
Burkina Faso coach Amir Abdou has handed first call-ups to four players in his 25-man squad for the opening AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Benin and Central African Republic.
Burkina Faso coach Amir Abdou has handed first international call-ups to four players — Ismaël Maïga, Julien Bationo, Mamoutou Ouédraogo and Axel Taonsa — as the Stallions prepare to open their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign against West African neighbours Benin.
Burkina Faso host Benin on 25 September before travelling to Casablanca to face Central African Republic on neutral territory three days later — a Group F section that also includes Mauritania, making the opening fixtures genuinely important for early momentum.
Tapsoba anchors an experienced defence
Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba remains the defensive cornerstone, joined by Nasser Djiga and Issa Kaboré, plus newcomers Maïga and Ouédraogo alongside Arsène Kouassi, Rachid Gnanou and Arthur Zagre. Three goalkeepers compete for the gloves: Farid Ouédraogo, Kylian Nikiema and the experienced Hervé Koffi.
New faces in midfield
Bationo and Taonsa are the two newcomers in midfield, joined by Rachid Kouda and Bebel Doumbia — giving Abdou fresh options to assess as Burkina Faso begin another qualifying campaign with genuine continental pedigree behind them.
Ouattara and Traoré lead the attack
Dango Ouattara has become a key figure in Burkina Faso's attacking set-up, joined by another established option in Lassina Traoré. Abdoul Tapsoba, Georgi Minoungou, Ousséni Bouda, Aboubacar Camara, Landry Kabouré and Elohim Kaboré complete a deep forward line.
Why the opener matters
Burkina Faso have traditionally been competitive at AFCON, and this double-header — a home derby against Benin followed by a rearranged fixture against CAR — gives Abdou an early read on where his blend of youth and experience stands in a genuinely tight Group F.
Full Burkina Faso squad
Goalkeepers: Farid Ouédraogo, Kylian Nikiema, Hervé Koffi
Defenders: Arsène Kouassi, Ismaël Maïga, Rachid Gnanou, Edmond Tapsoba, Arthur Zagre, Mamoutou Ouédraogo, Nasser Djiga, Issa Kaboré
Midfielders: Julien Bationo, Rachid Kouda, Axel Taonsa, Bebel Doumbia
Forwards: Dango Ouattara, Georgi Minoungou, Abdoul Tapsoba, Ousséni Bouda, Landry Kabouré, Elohim Kaboré, Lassina Traoré, Aboubacar Camara
Group F's road to East Africa
Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania and Central African Republic are all chasing the same two spots. If your team makes it, the Cantravu Experience Card is a single prepaid card for every experience across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda at PAMOJA 2027.
Squad information sourced from CAF's official announcement, 17 September 2026.
Ready to book AFCON 2027?
Flights, hotel, match tickets, and transfers — all in one package.