Burkina Faso became the first team to secure a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco after a 2-0 win against Burundi on Sunday. Former Aston Villa forward Bertrand Traore, now playing for Ajax, contributed to the win by converting a penalty deep into injury time during the Group L qualifier held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The scoring started early for the Stallions when Saudi Arabia-based Mohamed Konate found the net just five minutes into the match. The victory follows another dominant display just days earlier, where Burkina Faso thrashed Burundi 4-1 in another Abidjan stadium. The two qualifiers were held in Ivory Coast, as neither Burkina Faso nor Burundi currently have stadiums that meet international standards.
The Burkinabe have rebounded strongly following their disappointing last-16 exit at the 2024 AFCON, where they were eliminated by Mali in a 2-1 defeat. Following that performance, French coach Hubert Velud was replaced by Brama Traore, who has since guided the team through an unbeaten qualifying campaign. With a draw against Senegal, a win over Malawi, and two consecutive victories against Burundi, Burkina Faso has secured their place in Morocco.
This marks the 14th AFCON appearance for Burkina Faso, whose best performance came in 2013 when they finished runners-up to Nigeria in South Africa. They now have 10 points in Group L, with Senegal in second place on seven points. Senegal, the reigning AFCON champions, can also book their ticket to the 2025 finals with a win against Malawi on Tuesday.
A busy schedule of qualifiers continues, with eight matches set for Monday and 15 more on Tuesday, as the race to Morocco heats up. Morocco, as the host nation, will automatically participate but remain involved in the qualifiers to maintain competitive match fitness ahead of the tournament.
Burkina Faso’s resurgence under Brama Traore is a testament to their determination, and they will now look forward to making a mark in the upcoming AFCON finals.
