Burkina Faso’s leader, Ibrahim Traoré, has called for an explanation from the country’s Football Federation and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after Nigeria was awarded the final World Cup playoff slot ahead of his country.
The dispute arose following Burkina Faso’s 3–1 victory over Ethiopia, which they believed had secured their qualification. However, CAF’s decision to exclude points gained against the lowest-ranked teams in each group — a rule enforced after Eritrea’s withdrawal — reshaped the standings.
The adjustment ultimately favoured Nigeria, who had only managed two draws against Zimbabwe, their group’s bottom team. The development reportedly left Traoré angered and demanding transparency.
Reports indicate that Traoré has requested a comprehensive explanation of the qualification calculations, especially in light of Burkina Faso’s strong finish. The Stallions were compelled to play earlier qualifiers away due to renovations at the Stade du 4 Août to meet CAF standards.
After returning to their home turf and securing crucial wins, they were later informed that Nigeria had progressed instead — prompting Traoré’s demand for answers.