Burkina Faso’s national football team is preparing to play two international friendlies against Russia and Belarus, scheduled for 5 and 9 June in Volgograd and Minsk, respectively.
Notably absent from the squad is striker Lassina Traore, who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk. Despite a successful season where he scored 7 goals and provided 6 assists, he was not included in the 25-player call-up. This decision has triggered various reactions among fans and pundits.
Coach Amir Abdou clarified the situation regarding Traore’s absence, stating, “His absence is not down to sporting reasons. Lassina had a great season, especially towards the end. Getting into Russia with his passport is a bit complicated. We didn’t want to take any risks. We’ll miss him.”