Burkina Faso have dismissed head coach Brama Traoré and his technical staff after the national team’s elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with the country’s football federation saying the Stallions’ showing failed to meet the minimum target set before the tournament.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Burkina Faso Football Federation said the team’s performance “fell far short of the objectives set,” describing the outcome as a “deep disappointment” for supporters and stakeholders. The federation said the pre-tournament goal was to reach at least the semi-finals, pointing to the national side’s “positive momentum” and stronger runs in previous editions.
Burkina Faso reached the round of 16 but were knocked out in a heavy 3–0 defeat by defending champions Ivory Coast in Marrakesh on January 6, 2026, a result that intensified scrutiny of the team’s trajectory and tactical approach. Reuters reported that Burkina Faso finished second in their group before the last-16 defeat, but that the federation viewed the tournament as a clear underachievement against its stated objectives.
The federation thanked Traoré and his colleagues for their service since 2024, and said it would immediately begin a new selection process for the next coaching staff. Traoré had been in the role for roughly 22 months, according to Reuters.
The dismissal follows a pattern of stalled progress for the Stallions at the continental finals. Burkina Faso were also eliminated in the round of 16 at the previous AFCON, though they reached the semi-finals in 2021, losing to eventual champions Senegal.
The coaching change also comes against a broader competitive backdrop: Burkina Faso did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leaving the federation under pressure to reset quickly ahead of the next qualifying cycle. Attention now shifts to AFCON 2027 qualifying, with the finals set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and CAF already outlining the route into the tournament.
