The Burkinabè Football Federation (FBF) has officially appointed Amir Abdou as the new head coach of the Burkina Faso national team, the Stallions. The 53-year-old French-born coach, known for his work with Mauritania and the Comoros, signed a contract reportedly running until the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He succeeds Belgian coach Hubert Velud, whose contract was not renewed after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Abdou's appointment, confirmed by the FBF in late March 2026, follows a period of instability for the team. His immediate task will be to prepare the Stallions for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the aim of securing a spot in the tournament to be held in Morocco.
Known for his pragmatic and disciplined approach, Abdou previously led Mauritania to their first-ever AFCON appearance in 2019 and famously guided the Comoros to a historic round of 16 berth in the 2021 edition. His challenge with Burkina Faso will be to harness the squad's existing talent and improve upon their recent performances in continental competitions.
