Burkina Faso coach Paul Duarte has named his 23 man squad for the Africa Nations Cup due next year in Gabon but still revealed his reserves in case of any needed changes.
The squad that has three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards will pitch camp in Morocco starting on January 1, 2017 where they have lined up two friendlies – against a local side and Mali.
There are no surprises in the squad as household names such as Aristide Bance, Bakary Kone, Alain Traore, Bertrand Traore, Charles Kabore and Jonathan Pitroipa among others.
The 2013 finalists in South Africa are drawn in group A alongside hosts Gabon, debutants Guinea Bissau and four time African champions, Cameroon.
They Stallions were eliminated at the group stages at the last edition and will be eager to improve on the performance at their 12th appearance at the tournament.
The 1998 hosts topped a group that had Uganda, Botswana and Comoros to qualify for the edition in Gabon.
The 2017 Cup of Nations will last for three weeks, with the final played on 5 February.
The 23-man squad
Goalkeepers: Germain Sanou (Beauvais/France), Koffi Kouakou (Asec d’Abidjan/Côte d’Ivoire) and Aboubacar Sawadogo (RCK/Burkina Faso)
Defenders: Bakary Koné (Malaga/Spain), Ernest Congo (IZK Khemisset/Morocco), Issouf Paro (Santos/South Africa), Patrick Malo (Smouha/Egypt), Issoufou Dayo (Racing Club Berkane/Morocco), Yacouba Coulibaly (RCB/Burkina Faso) and Steeve Yago (Toulouse FC/France)
Midfielders: Bakary Saré dit Bouba (Moreinrense/Portugal), Abdou Razack Traoré (Karabukspor/Turkey), Blati Touré (Omonia Nicosia/ Cyprus), Adama Guira (RC Lens/France), Charles Kaboré (Krasnodar/Russia), Alain Traoré (Kayserispor/Turkey) and Cyrille Bayala (Sheriff Tiraspol/Moldovia).
Forwards: Jonathan Pitroipa (Al Nasr/UAE), Prejuce Nakoulma (Kayserispor/Turkey), Aristide Bancé (ASEC d’Abidjan/Côte d’Ivoire), Jonathan Zongo (Almeria/France)
Bertrand Traoré (Ajax d’Amsterdam/Holland), Banou Diawara (Smouha Club/ Egypt) and Issoumaila Lingani (Happoel Ashleon/Israël).
THE RESERVES: Baba Zongo (RCB/Burkina Faso), Moussa Dao (El Masry/Egypt), Sankara Robert (Bloemfontein-South Africa), Michailou Drame (Stade de Gabesien/Tunisia), Moussa Konvolbo (EFO/Burkina Faso), Cyrile Kpan (Kawakab Marrakech/Morocco), Souleymane Sawadogo (Chateauroux/France), Emmanuel Gora (FC Lupopo/Congo), Yacouba Mando (Horoya/Guinea), Fousseni Beao (RCB/Burkina Faso), Lookman Boni Trova (Salitas/Burkina Faso), Souleymane Koanda (ASEC d’Abidjan/Côte d’Ivoire) and Aziz Kaboré (Valenciennes/France).
Source:Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/Tony Bebli
