Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s call for an explanation over Burkina Faso’s exclusion from the CAF World Cup playoffs has ignited widespread discussion across the African football community.
The controversy stems from CAF’s regulation that deducts points earned against the bottom-placed teams in each group when ranking the best runners-up because of Eretria’s decision to pull out of the qualifiers.
Under the rule, the four best second-placed teams, Gabon, DR Congo, Cameroon, and Nigeria, advanced to the playoffs. Burkina Faso, despite finishing the qualifiers with 21 points, missed out because six of those points were earned against the last-placed side, Djibouti.
Once deducted, the Stallions dropped below Nigeria, who had 17 points but only two came from the bottom team in their group.
Captain Traoré demands answers after Burkina Faso misses World Cup playoff spot
The outcome left many confused, as teams with higher total points failed to qualify, while others with fewer advanced.
For Burkina Faso, it was particularly painful given the team’s strong resurgence, returning home to the renovated Stade du 4 Août, winning their last matches, and believing they had done enough to progress.
Traoré’s reaction reflects the frustration within the Burkinabè camp, as the nation feels hard done by a rule many argue was poorly communicated and difficult to grasp.
While the teams were aware of the regulation before qualification began, the fallout has reignited a debate about the transparency and clarity of competition rules in African football.
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Meanwhile, watch highlights of Ghana’s 1-0 win over Comoros in the World Cup qualifiers
