AFCON: EPL stars Ouattara, Traore, Leverkusen’s Tapsoba make Burkina Faso 25-man squad

AFCON

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Burkina Faso coach Brama Traoré has named a 25-man squad for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, selecting a tight group that blends European-based stars with emerging domestic talent.

This is released on the CAF website on Monday.

AFCON begins in Morocco on December 21, 2025 and ends on January 18, 2026.

Drawn in Group E with Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan, the Stallions retain a strong defensive spine led by Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen) and Nasser Djiga (Rangers), while Premier League duo Dango Ouattara (Brentford) and Bertrand Traoré (Sunderland) headline the attack.

Shakhtar Donetsk striker Lassina Traoré leads the line in a squad Traoré believes offers “stability and ambition.”

Burkina Faso 25-man squad (summary):

Hervé Koffi – Angers (France)

Kilian Nikiema – ADO Den Haag (Netherlands)

Sofiane Farid Ouédraogo – Al Hilal SC (Sudan)

Nasser Yacouba Djiga – Rangers (Scotland)

Edmond Tapsoba – Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)

Issoufou Dayo – Umm Salal (Qatar)

Adamo Nagalo – PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)

Steeve Yago – Aris Limassol (Cyprus)

Issa Kaboré – Wrexham (Wales)

Arsène Kouassi – Lorient (France)

Abdoul Rachid Ayindé – Gent (Belgium)

Ibrahim Blati Touré – Pyramids FC (Egypt)

Cédric Badolo – Spartak Trnava (Slovakia)

Saïdou Simporé – National Bank (Egypt)

Mohamed Zougrana – MC Alger (Algeria)

Gustavo Sangaré – Noah (Armenia)

Stéphane Aziz Ki – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

Ismahila Ouédraogo – OB Odense (Denmark)

Bertrand Traoré – Sunderland (England)

Dango Ouattara – Brentford (England)

Ousseni Bouda – San Jose Earthquakes (USA)

Pierre Landry Kaboré – Hearts (Scotland)

Georgi Minoungou – Seattle Sounders (USA)

Cyriaque Iré – Freiburg (Germany)

Lassina Traoré – Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Meanwhile, Uganda coach Paul Put has released a 30-man provisional squad as the Cranes prepare for their first AFCON appearance since 2019.

Released in a statement on Sunday on the CAF website, the team will hold an 11-day camp in Casablanca, where two friendlies will be played before final selection is trimmed to 28 players.

Uganda are placed in Group C, facing Nigeria, Tanzania and Tunisia.

Veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango returns, while teenage forward James Bogere earns a first call-up after impressing at the U17 World Cup. In-form striker Mato Rogers, who has 15 goals in 17 matches for FK Vardar, leads the attack.

Uganda 30-man provisional squad (summary):

Salim Omar Magoola – Richards Bay FC (South Africa)

Denis Onyango – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Alionzi Nafian – Defence Forces FC (Ethiopia)

Charles Lukwago – KCCA FC (Uganda)

Toby Sibbick – Burton Albion (England)

Elio Caprodossi – Universitatea Cluj (Romania)

Jordan Obita – Hibernian FC (Scotland)

Rogers Torach – Vipers SC (Uganda)

Abdu Azizi Kayondo – Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic)

Isaac Muleme – Viktoria Žižkov (Czech Republic)

Timothy Awany – FC Ashdod (Israel)

David Owori – SC Villa (Uganda)

Hilary Mukundane – Vipers SC (Uganda)

Kenneth Semakula – Al-Adalah FC (Saudi Arabia)

Khalid Aucho – Singida Black Stars (Tanzania)

Ronald Ssekingada – APR FC (Rwanda)

Bobosi Byaruhanga – Oakland Roots (USA)

Baba Alhassan – FCSB (Romania)

Allan Okello – Vipers SC (Uganda)

Melvyn Lorenzen – Muangthong United (Thailand)

Travis Mutyaba – CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)

Denis Omedi – APR FC (Rwanda)

Mato Rogers – FK Vardar (North Macedonia)

Reagan Mpande – SC Villa (Uganda)

Jude Ssemugabi – Jamus FC (South Sudan)

Uchechukwu Ikpeazu – St. Johnstone (Scotland)

Steven Mukwala – Simba SC (Tanzania)

James Bogere – Masaka Sunshine FC (Uganda)

Ivan Ahimbisibwe – KCCA FC (Uganda)

Shafik Nana Kwikiriza – KCCA FC (Uganda).

Tosin, with over six years' experience, conducts incisive interviews, pens engaging features, subedits and delivers impactful stories for the digital sphere.

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