Burkina Faso appoint Amir Abdou as new head coach after AFCON exit
The Burkina Faso Football Federation has appointed Amir Abdou as the new head coach of the national team, following the Stallions’ early exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The 53-year-old Franco-Comorian tactician replaces Brama Traore, whose tenure ended after the disappointing continental campaign. The federation said Abdou emerged from a rigorous selection process conducted after a public call for applications.
In a statement published on the Confederation of African Football website on March 1, 2026, the federation confirmed his appointment, describing it as the start of a new phase focused on structure, ambition and competitive renewal.
Abdou is expected to stabilise the team ahead of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and guide the Stallions through upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.
He rose to prominence with the Comoros national team, leading the island nation to the knockout stages of AFCON for the first time in 2021. He later managed Mauritania, where he oversaw a notable victory over Algeria at AFCON 2023, further cementing his reputation as a disciplined and tactically organised coach.
At club level, Abdou won two Mauritanian league titles with FC Nouadhibou and most recently worked with Hassania Agadir in Morocco’s top flight.
Known for building compact defensive units and promoting team cohesion, Abdou takes charge of a Burkina Faso side that blends experienced internationals with emerging talents.
The Stallions reached the AFCON final in 2013 and made semi-final appearances in 2017 and 2021, but recent inconsistency has heightened calls for renewed stability and sustained competitiveness.
Abdou’s first matches in charge are scheduled for the March 2026 international window, with opponents yet to be confirmed.
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