AFCON 2025: Burkina Faso pleased but wary after the draw

The draw for AFCON 2025 has been made. Each of the 24 qualified nations now knows its group-stage opponents. Burkina Faso will face Algeria, whom they met at the last AFCON in Ivory Coast, as well as Equatorial Guinea and Sudan, who have often given the Etalons a hard time.

A group that looks manageable on paper

Bertrand Traoré, Charles Kaboré and the Etalons supporters are unanimous that Burkina Faso's group at AFCON 2025 is within their reach compared with the other groups, which range from balanced to tough.

Bertrand Traoré, current captain of the Burkina Faso Etalons: "It's a fairly balanced draw for us. It could have been worse, we could have landed bigger teams. We have a group where we'll still need to stay serious and fight to qualify. The most important thing is ourselves. It's up to us to arrive at this AFCON 2025 ready at every level so we can go after our objectives." Charles Kaboré shares that view: "I followed the AFCON Morocco 2025 draw with great interest. Our team has been placed in Group E alongside Algeria, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea. It's true that in Africa today all the teams are evenly matched, but to be the best you have to beat the best. I have faith in our national team and I know we can do it. It's up to us to work with discipline and seriousness to get out of the group stage and go after our first star," said the sports ambassador and former Burkina Faso Etalons captain.

Read also: AFCON 2025: Regragui, Aurier, Cissé… reactions after the draw

Zuhair Lahlah, an Etalons supporter, took the same view and said he was pleased with the AFCON 2025 draw, adding: "Burkina Faso have a manageable, well-balanced group. We can hold our heads high if our Etalons have the spirit of our dear country's motto, 'the homeland or death, we shall overcome', as was the case for us at AFCON 2013 in South Africa, where we finished runners-up."

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Caution is the watchword

Others, however, warned against a repeat of the Etalons' last AFCON appearance, when the Burkina Faso national team were knocked out in the round of 16 by Mali. Jérémie Zongo said in this regard: "I'd say it's a tough group. As usual, it's a reunion between Burkina Faso and Algeria. Those two teams will have their say. But be careful, we've reached a point where African football is at a very high level. Every team has to be taken seriously. That's the case with Sudan, who seem weak but are hard to play against or to beat. The statistics of that team in recent months prove me right. They knocked out the mighty Ghana to get to this AFCON."

Sita Ouattara made the same point, saying: "No match should be underestimated. We have to win the first games, anything but defeat, otherwise it will leave us behind. Forgive me, Brama Traoré (coach of the Burkina Faso Etalons), when the time comes, pick the players who are in form and able to deliver for us. We don't want a squad of players who haven't got match fitness at their respective clubs, even if they're good. Pick for us those who will be sharp, even if they're rude or whatever, please."

Burkina Faso will begin the tournament against Equatorial Guinea on 24 December 2025 in Casablanca. The second match will be against Algeria on 28 December in Rabat. Finally, the Burkina Faso Etalons will finish the group stage against Sudan on 31 December in Casablanca.