Burkina Faso’s national football team, the Etalons, will face Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau in their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers without star defender Edmond Tapsoba. The Bayer Leverkusen center-back is sidelined due to a thigh injury, ruling him out of the matches scheduled for March 21 in El Abdi Stadium, Morocco, and March 24 at the Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro.
The Etalons began their preparations on Monday in El Jadida, Morocco, without their defensive anchor. Tapsoba’s absence is a significant blow as Burkina Faso aims to climb the Group A standings. After four matchdays, the team sits in third place with five points, trailing Guinea-Bissau (6 points) and group leaders Egypt (10 points).
The match against Djibouti offers a chance for the Etalons to secure vital points, while the clash with Guinea-Bissau could prove decisive in their quest for a World Cup berth. Coach Hubert Velud will need to reshuffle his defensive lineup to compensate for Tapsoba’s absence.
Despite the setback, the Etalons remain determined to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Fans will be watching closely to see if the team can rise to the occasion and deliver strong performances in these critical qualifiers.
