BURKINA Faso may not be known for its football talent, but the landlocked country has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.
Admittedly, they are long shots to win the Africa Cup of Nations, but we all know this tournament can spring a surprise.
Football is very popular in Burkina Faso, played both professionally and informally in towns and villages across the country.
Who are Burkina Faso’s best players?
Charles Kabore, defensive midfielder, FC Krasnodar (Russia)
His current value on the transfer market is £6million.
Kabore has 70 international caps.
Prejuce Niguimbe Nakoulma, winger, Kayserispor (Turkey)
Nakoulma is a big powerful player who has the speed too, playing as a winger or forward.
Has six goals in 32 international appearances.
Bertrand Traore, Ajax (on loan from Chelsea)
Bertrand Traore was a full international from the age of 15 and has represented Burkina Faso at two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Traore looked to have made his mark on the Premier League last season. He scored his first Chelsea goal in a 5–1 victory at Milton Keynes. Two weeks later his first Premier League goal came against Newcastle United and he went on to record four goals in five games.
But it wasn’t enough to keep him at Stamford Bridge this season.
Who are Burkina Faso's Premier League players?
There are no players from Burkina Faso operating in the Premier League this season.
Bertrand Traore, on loan at Ajax, is the only player affiliated to a top flight team.
He has found chances limited at Chelsea, but is just one of a huge number of players the London club have loaned out.
How did Burkina Faso qualify for the ACN?
Burkina Faso came joint top with Uganda in their qualifying group, winning four of their six games.
They beat Uganda 1-0 thanks to a Jonathan Pitroipa penalty and also enjoyed a goalless away draw.
Their biggest victory was 2-0, in their group opener against Comoros.
Who is the manager of Burkina Faso?
Paulo Jorge Rebelo Duarte is a retired Portuguese central defender and the current coach of Burkina Faso.
During a 17-year senior career with Uniao de Leiria he played 238 games over 12 seasons.
He went on to manager the club before heading for the Burkina Faso job in 2014.
What is Burkina Faso's history in the ACN?
As hosts they finished fourth in 1998.
Their best ever finish in the tournament was in 2013 when they lost to Nigeria in the final.
It was by the slenderest of margins, a 40th minute goal, in front of an 85-000 strong crowd.
This is the 10th time Burkina Faso have made the finals.
What are Burkina Faso's odds in the Africa Cup of Nations?
Burkina Faso's Africa Cup of Nations odds are 25-1 according to Sun Bets (get the latest).
Bertrand Traore proved to be a more than able stand-in for Diego Costa at Chelsea last season and he would appear to be their best chance of success.
In truth they will do well to get past Gabon, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau at the group stage.
Source: The Sun