Stallions Blend European Flair with Domestic Promise for Group E Clash vs Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan; Uganda’s 30-Man Provisional Features Onyango Return and Ikpeazu Call-Up.

CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025

Burkina Faso coach Brama Traoré has unveiled a compact 25-man squad for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, fusing European-based stars with rising local talents, as announced on the CAF website Monday.

The Stallions, drawn in Group E alongside Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan, boast a robust defensive core anchored by Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and Rangers’ Nasser Djiga. Up top, Premier League duo Dango Ouattara (Brentford) and Bertrand Traoré (Sunderland) spearhead the attack, with Shakhtar Donetsk’s Lassina Traoré as focal point—offering what Traoré calls “stability and ambition.”

The tournament ignites on December 21, 2025, in Morocco, wrapping on January 18, 2026.

Burkina Faso 25-Man Squad

Goalkeepers

  • Hervé Koffi – Angers (France)
  • Kilian Nikiema – ADO Den Haag (Netherlands)
  • Sofiane Farid Ouédraogo – Al Hilal SC (Sudan)

Defenders

  • Nasser Yacouba Djiga – Rangers (Scotland)
  • Edmond Tapsoba – Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
  • Issoufou Dayo – Umm Salal (Qatar)
  • Adamo Nagalo – PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
  • Steeve Yago – Aris Limassol (Cyprus)
  • Issa Kaboré – Wrexham (Wales)
  • Arsène Kouassi – Lorient (France)
  • Abdoul Rachid Ayindé – Gent (Belgium)

Midfielders

  • Ibrahim Blati Touré – Pyramids FC (Egypt)
  • Cédric Badolo – Spartak Trnava (Slovakia)
  • Saïdou Simporé – National Bank (Egypt)
  • Mohamed Zougrana – MC Alger (Algeria)
  • Gustavo Sangaré – Noah (Armenia)
  • Stéphane Aziz Ki – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
  • Ismahila Ouédraogo – OB Odense (Denmark)

Forwards

  • Bertrand Traoré – Sunderland (England)
  • Dango Ouattara – Brentford (England)
  • Ousseni Bouda – San Jose Earthquakes (USA)
  • Pierre Landry Kaboré – Hearts (Scotland)
  • Georgi Minoungou – Seattle Sounders (USA)
  • Cyriaque Iré – Freiburg (Germany)
  • Lassina Traoré – Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Uganda’s Cranes Name 30-Man Provisional for AFCON Return

In parallel, Uganda coach Paul Put disclosed a 30-man provisional squad Sunday via CAF, gearing up for the Cranes’ first AFCON since 2019. The group heads to an 11-day camp in Casablanca, featuring two friendlies before trimming to 28 players.

Placed in Group C against Nigeria, Tanzania, and Tunisia, highlights include veteran keeper Denis Onyango’s comeback and teen sensation James Bogere’s debut nod post-U17 World Cup. Prolific Mato Rogers (15 goals in 17 games for FK Vardar) fronts the assault, with Nigerian-born Uchechukwu Ikpeazu (St. Johnstone) adding firepower.

Uganda 30-Man Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

  • Salim Omar Magoola – Richards Bay FC (South Africa)
  • Denis Onyango – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
  • Alionzi Nafian – Defence Forces FC (Ethiopia)
  • Charles Lukwago – KCCA FC (Uganda)

Defenders

  • Toby Sibbick – Burton Albion (England)
  • Elio Caprodossi – Universitatea Cluj (Romania)
  • Jordan Obita – Hibernian FC (Scotland)
  • Rogers Torach – Vipers SC (Uganda)
  • Abdu Azizi Kayondo – Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic)
  • Isaac Muleme – Viktoria Žižkov (Czech Republic)
  • Timothy Awany – FC Ashdod (Israel)
  • David Owori – SC Villa (Uganda)
  • Hilary Mukundane – Vipers SC (Uganda)

Midfielders

  • Kenneth Semakula – Al-Adalah FC (Saudi Arabia)
  • Khalid Aucho – Singida Black Stars (Tanzania)
  • Ronald Ssekingada – APR FC (Rwanda)
  • Bobosi Byaruhanga – Oakland Roots (USA)
  • Baba Alhassan – FCSB (Romania)

Forwards

  • Allan Okello – Vipers SC (Uganda)
  • Melvyn Lorenzen – Muangthong United (Thailand)
  • Travis Mutyaba – CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
  • Denis Omedi – APR FC (Rwanda)
  • Mato Rogers – FK Vardar (North Macedonia)
  • Reagan Mpande – SC Villa (Uganda)
  • Jude Ssemugabi – Jamus FC (South Sudan)
  • Uchechukwu Ikpeazu – St. Johnstone (Scotland)
  • Steven Mukwala – Simba SC (Tanzania)
  • James Bogere – Masaka Sunshine FC (Uganda)
  • Ivan Ahimbisibwe – KCCA FC (Uganda)
  • Shafik Nana Kwikiriza – KCCA FC (Uganda)

With squads locked in, Burkina Faso and Uganda eye breakthroughs in Morocco—where Atlas Lion mascot Assad awaits to roar alongside the continent’s finest.