Burkina Faso calls up foreign-based stars for friendlies against Tunisia and Zimbabwe

Burkina Faso national team head coach Brama Traoré has called up a mostly foreign-based squad for upcoming friendly matches against Tunisia and Zimbabwe. The Stallions will face Tunisia in Tunis on June 2 before traveling to Casablanca to take on Zimbabwe on June 6.

Traoré will use players he knows well with four players based in the Burkinabe top flight while the rest of the squad is based abroad. Experienced stars in the team include Bertrand Traoré, Edmond Tapsoba, Issoufou Dayo and Issa Kaboré.

Of note is the inclusion of new Freiburg signing Cyriaque Irié, the 19-year-old born in Ivory Coast who still has yet to make his Stallions debut. Defender Arsene Kouassi is another player born in Ivory Coast who will look to make his Burkina Faso debut after the 20-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season with Ligue 2 side Ajaccio.

The focus of the June friendly matches will be preparation for the conclusion of Burkina Faso’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, which arrives in September and October with four more games. Burkina Faso are currently in second place in Group A, five points behind group favorites Egypt who the Stallions will face in September.

At the end of the year will be the finals for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, leaving Brama Traoré with little time to experiment ahead of important matches. Of note is the finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) which will take place in August for players based in the domestic league.