AFCON 2025 - B Faso: Brama Traoré, the ambitious coach ready to conquer Morocco

An exclusively local player journey
Brama Traoré began his playing career in 1980 at the Jeunesse Club of Bobo-Dioulasso (JCB) from 1980 to 1982, before joining the Racing Club of Bobo-Dioulasso, where he played until 1993 accumulating notable successes and distinctions throughout his career. As a former Stallion, he wore the colors of Faso between 1986 and 1993. Faithful to his country, he has never played abroad, preferring to contribute to the development of local football.

From the pitch to the bench: The reconversion of Brama Traoré
Far from definitively hanging up his boots, Brama Traoré chose to stay in the midfield by training for the coaching profession. With a national diploma in hand, he went on internships to refine his tactical and pedagogical knowledge. The current coach of the Étalons du Burkina Faso has benefited from several training courses in his field, including that of video analyst in the Netherlands. He also attended training courses in Germany on the methodology of training and physical preparation without forgetting the FIFA trainings in Ouagadougou.

Holder of a CAF A License, Brama Traoré was assistant to Paul Put between 2013 and 2016 at the head of the national team. As an assistant, he participated in the 2015 AFCON. Some other national selections benefited from his special touch. He supports the youth teams of Burkina Faso, notably the U23 and U20 with whom he achieves notable results, such as a silver medal at the 9th La Francophonie Games in Kinshasa (DRC) in August 2023. He won the bronze medal at the UFOA West B tournament, played in July 2022. With the local stallions, he participated in the African Nations Championship, CHAN 2014. He is also a quarter-finalist at the 2021 Games of La Francophonie in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

'Researcher' is also a fine connoisseur of the national championship of Burkinabe football. He left an indelible mark on his time at the bench of the Racing Club of Bobo-Dioulasso (RCB). He made a first stint with the Tigers between 1995 and 2000, then a second stint between 2005 and 2008. With the team from Diaradougou, Brama Traoré played in the final of the Faso Cup during the 2005-2006 season and won the said Cup the following season.

The climb to the summit: Brama Traoré at the head of the Stallions
On March 11, 2024, the Burkina Faso Football Federation (FBF) appointed him as coach of the senior national team, succeeding Frenchman Hubert Velud. At 63 years old today, Brama Traoré becomes one of the few local coaches to lead the Stallions, the third in history after the late Driassa Traoré alias 'Saboteur' and Kamou Malo. Under his leadership, Burkina Faso qualifies for AFCON 2025 in Morocco and continues to aim for the summits, with a stated ambition to win the continental trophy.

'The technical management wants to write a glorious history of our football. And this requires a final victory at the competition. We know each other’s ambitions. If everyone had to express themselves, we would say that we want this cup. It takes the atmosphere of victory to go to victory,"

 stressed Brama Traoré during the announcement of the 25 players invited to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations  2025, last December 8th. 

Brama Traoré embodies continuity and local expertise in a Burkinabe football often entrusted to foreign technicians. Tactical and passionate strategist, he relies on a mix of experience and youth to restore pride and competitiveness to the Stallions of Burkina Faso.