Burkina Faso’s Traore dreams of World Cup

Traore, 22, is widely regarded as one of the most promising young African attacking talents in the game, and this season sealed an £8 million move from Chelsea to French side Lyon.

Traore has also been ever-present in Burkina Faso’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring twice in five appearances, and looks a certain starter at FNB Stadium against South Africa tomorrow, as the Stallions chase the first of two Group D wins that would leave them with a fantastic chance of making it to Russia.

“It is a dream for the whole country,” said Traore at Ellis Park this week, as Burkina Faso prepared for the Bafana game.

“We have never played in a World Cup, we were nearly there in 2014, but we failed in the last game, now there is still a chance and we want to take it.”

Paulo Duarte’s side would be certain to qualify with two wins from their final two matches, were it not for a Fifa decision to order a replay of Bafana Bafana’s home qualifier against Senegal, after banning Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey for life for match manipulation at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last November.

Senegal lost the game 2-1, but now have a chance to redeem themselves next month, and if they win that match and their other two qualifiers, the Teranga Lions are guaranteed a place at the World Cup.

Burkina Faso have been upset by Fifa’s decision, which came just after they had drawn with Senegal in Dakar and Ouagadougou, and they have filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“We cannot do anything, but to me it is not fair, they (Fifa) could have taken the decision before our games against Senegal, but they took the decision afterwards,” said Traore.

“I think it is unfair, but we have to accept it.”