Burkina Faso Fires Coach Traoré After AFCON Exit

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — The Burkinabè Football Federation has dismissed national team coach Brama Traoré and his entire technical staff following Burkina Faso's early exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The decision, announced on Wednesday, came after the team advanced to the round of 16 but suffered a 3-0 defeat to defending champions Ivory Coast in Marrakech on January 6. The federation described the overall performance as falling "far short of the objectives set for the national team," which included reaching at least the semifinals. This target aligned with the team's recent history of competitive showings in the continental tournament.

"This poor performance has caused deep disappointment among supporters, those involved in national football, and the governing bodies," the federation stated in its official release. The Stallions finished second in their group stage but were outplayed in the knockout round, marking a repeat of their round-of-16 elimination from the previous edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. In contrast, Burkina Faso had progressed to the semifinals in 2021, where they fell to eventual winners Senegal.