AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Issoufou Dayo comes out of retirement and rejoins the Stallions

Burkina Faso’s head coach, Amir Abdou, announced on Thursday 5 November the names of the players who will take part in the third and fourth matchdays of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

For the double-header against Mauritania on 13 and 16 November, Amir Abdou has called up 25 players. The Comorian manager’s squad is marked by the return of Issoufou Dayo.

The Burkinabé defender had announced his retirement from international football after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. However, he has come out of retirement to once again represent Burkina Faso. Josué Tiendrébéogo and Sacha Banse have also made their return to the national team.

The Stallions will host Mauritania on 13 November for the third matchday of the qualifiers before travelling on 16 November for the fourth matchday. Burkina Faso began their qualifying campaign with a draw and a win in Group F.

The players called up

Goalkeepers

• Hervé KOFFI, Kilian NIKIÉMA, Hillel KONATÉ

Defenders

• Nasser Yacouba DJIGA, Edmond TAPSOBA, Arsène KOUASSI, Rachide GNANOU, Arthur ZAGRÉ, Mamoutou OUÉDRAOGO, Issa KABORÉ, Issoufou DAYO

Midfielders

• Sacha BANSÉ, Ismahila OUÉDRAOGO, Lohann DOUCET, Mohamed ZOUNGRANA, Josué TIENDREBEOGO, Rachid KOUDA

Forwards

• Dango OUATTARA, Aboubacar Sidiki CAMARA, Ousseni BOUDA, Georgi MINOUNGOU, Cyriaque IRIÉ, Élohim KABORÉ, Abdoul Fessal TAPSOBA, Lassina TRAORÉ