AFCON 2021: Burkina Faso – Team guide, key players and full fixtures

Burkina Faso have proven themselves a team capable of causing anyone problems on their day. Possessing a glut of attacking talent – even though this time they will have to do without iconic striker Aristide Bance, whose goals contributed to their qualification – the Stallions come into the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as something of a dark horse.

If qualifying for the AFCON without defeat was not enough of a tip-off as to their quality, they also ran Algeria mightily close in the Second Round of 2022 World Cup qualifying, emerging unscathed against the African champions and scoring in both meetings as well. Kamou Malo’s side did not lose a single competitive game in all of 2021, and come to Cameroon in bullish form.

Burkina Faso are ranked 11th in Africa and 60th in the world per the FIFA rankings released on December 23rd, 2021.

Burkina Faso have only emerged as a force at the AFCON fairly recently, reaching the final in 2013 only to lose to Nigeria. Four years later, they finished in third place in Gabon after losing out to Egypt in a heartbreaking penalty shootout.

Before the 2010s, their only other podium finish came on home soil in 1998, when they finished in fourth place after one of the most entertaining matches in the history of the competition: a 4-4 draw against DR Congo, which was followed by a penalty shootout.

Burkina Faso severed ties with previous manager Paulo Duarte following his failure to qualify for the 2019 AFCON. In his stead, Kamou Malo has the Stallions playing bold, attacking football in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, although he has stated recently he is keen for his young team to not get carried away by their good results, and that he would rather his team “goes into the competition with a lot of fears”. 

His modesty should not, however, be taken for a lack of confidence: Burkina Faso can and will bloody noses with their verticality.

Edmond Tapsoba has risen to prominence on the back of superb performances for Bayer Leverkusen, and is a real leader in defence for the Stallions. A physically imposing presence, it is his skill on the ball that has come to the fore even more, and he will be key in repelling Cameroon on opening day alongside the more experienced Issoufou Dayo.

Cyril Bayala has been in and out of the side in recent times, but provides service from out wide, and Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traore remains a vital weapon for Malo, even with his relative lack of playing time in the Premier League.

Winger Abdoul Tapsoba has taken to international football with astonishing ease. Since making his debut in the second half of 2021, he already has four goals in six internationals. Capable of playing out wide or through the middle, the Standard Liege forward could be set for a breakout tournament in Cameroon.

Herve Koffi; Issa Kabore, Issoufou Dayo, Edmond Tapsoba, Steeve Yago; Cyrille Bayala, Adama Guira, Gustavo Sangare, Zakaria Sanogo; Djibril Ouattara, Abdoul Tapsoba.

A lot depends on how the draw shakes out. If Burkina Faso cannot pip Cameroon to top spot in Group A, they will face a much tougher path that could well terminate in the Round of 16. If, however, they win the group, they could be set for an interesting run to the latter stages, provided they bring their best form.