Madar (Ouagadougou) - Burkina Faso coach Amir Abdou on Thursday, 5 November 2026, named a 25-man squad for the double-header against Mauritania in matchdays three and four of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, according to Burkinabe media.
The first leg will be played on 13 November at the Stade du 4-Aout in Ouagadougou, before the return leg on 17 November at the Olympic Stadium in Nouakchott, Lefaso.net reported. The squad assembles on 9 November, according to Burkina24.
"We know Mauritania will be an opponent to take seriously. I had good times in that country, where I was always welcomed and respected. But on the pitch, there will be no gifts," Abdou, a former Mauritania coach, told a news conference, as quoted by Burkina24.
He set the target at two wins: "We must take 6 points from this double-header," he said, according to state daily Sidwaya, which noted that Burkina Faso have 4 points after a draw with Benin and a win over the Central African Republic in the first two matchdays.
The squad marks the return of Wydad AC defender Issoufou Dayo, who had stepped away from the national team after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as forward Cyriaque Irie and midfielder Sacha Banse. "He is a respected player who counts for a lot in the national team," Abdou said of Dayo, adding that his return does not guarantee him a starting place, according to the same sources.
Captain Bertrand Traore, still in rehabilitation with his club, is absent; the coach said he would be back in March 2027. Forward Landry Kabore was also left out for lack of playing time at his club, Sidwaya reported.
The squad includes defenders Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen) and Nasser Djiga (Wolverhampton), and forwards Dango Ouattara (Brentford) and Lassina Traore (Shakhtar Donetsk).
The Confederation of African Football had approved Nouakchott's Olympic Stadium to host the return leg following renovation and upgrading work.
