Burkina Faso has become the first nation to announce its final 27-member squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The tournamnet is set to kick off on January 13, 2024, in Ivory Coast.
The Stallions are coached by 64-year-old French coach Hubert Velud, who was appointed to the post last year in April.
Velud has included 4 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 7 midfielders, and 8 attackers in the squad. They are in Group D alongside Algeria, Mauritania, and Angola.
BolaNews takes a look at some of the influential players that have been included in the squad:
Bertrand Traore
The forward has remained an integral member of the Burkinabe squad since his debut in 2011, scoring 17 goals in the process. He was also a member of the squad for the last two editions of the Africa Cup.
Traore, who is on loan at Besiktas from Aston Villa, has scored three goals in the World Cup qualifiers so far.
At the 2021 AFCON, he played five matches with one goal and two assists, helping the West Africans finish in fourth place after losing to Cameroon on post-match penalties in the Third Place Playoff.
Dango Ouattara
Ouattra will be making a return to the biggest stage in Africa with Burkina Faso after featuring in the 2021 AfCON.
He has been a key member of the Bournemouth squad in the Premier League, with 20 appearances up his sleeve.
Having made his debut on December 30 in a goalless draw against Mauritania, Ouattara scored his first goal in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final 1-0 win against Tunisia.
The 21-year-old winger has 17 caps in the Stallions jersey with 7 goals.
Steeve Yago
He is one of the longest-serving members of the squad. Yago has 66 caps under his belt since making his debut in 2014 against Niger.
The defender scored his first goal against Cameroon in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) third-place play-off.
Yago plays for Cypriot First Division champion Aris Limassol. He makes the AFCON squad for the third time after the 2017 and 2021 editions.
Blati Touré
Toure was one of the most impressive players at the 2021 AFCON. He made it to the team of the tournament in that edition.
The 29-year-old midfielder turns out for Egyptian moneybags Pyramids FC. He boasts 31 caps for the Stallions since making his debut in 2017.
Born in Ivory Coast, Toure represented Burkina Faso at the 2017 Africa Cup tournament and the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.
Herve Koffi
He is Burkina Faso’s safest pair of hands due to his massive experience since making his debut in 2016 and being capped 48 times.
The Charleroi goalkeeper is making his third trip to the continent’s biggest showpiece next month in Ivory Coast. He was included in the 2017 and 2021 AFCON teams.
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Koffi is the vice captain of Burkina Faso and played almost all the matches at AFCON 2021 except the third-place playoff due to an injury in the semi-final clash against Senegal.
