Burkina Faso (Group A)

They have not sat on their laurels since winning a surprise place in the Final of the 2013 African Nations Cup and have kept up a consistent standard of performance since. That same year they were only narrowly edged out of a World Cup place by Algeria. They finished second in qualifying, behind Gabon, who were the only team to beat them, and little has changed since the last Nations Cup – promising a consistency that is rare in African football. However, the surprise factor they had last time out has now obviously gone.

COACH
Belgian Paul Put was banned in his own country in 2007 for fixing matches involving his club, Lierse, with a Chinese betting syndicate. He has since been handed a prison sentence in absentia that he is appealing but which prevents him from returning home. He took over as coach of the Gambia in 2008 and signed a three-year deal with Burkina Faso in 2012. He can do little wrong since he took them to the Nations Cup Final in 2013, which they lost 1-0 to Nigeria.

KEY PLAYERS
Six goals saw Jonathan Pitroipa end as the top scorer in the qualifiers, picking up where he left off at the 2013 Nations Cup, where he was player of the tournament. The nucleus of that side remains, with
Charles Kabore (above) captaining from midfield, Bakary Kone the key central defender and Alain Traore, free from injury, leading the attack.

LIKELY STARTING XI (4-4-2):
Germain Sanou - Mohamed Koffi, Bakary Koné, Steeve Yago, Narcisse Bambara - Jonathan Zongo, Djakaridja Koné, Charles Kabore, Jonathan Pitroipa - Bertrand Traoré, Alain Traoré.