OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Burkina Faso has fired coach Brama Traoré and his assistants after the team’s disappointing Africa Cup of Nations.

The Burkinabè Football Federation said Wednesday that the performance at the Africa Cup in Morocco fell “far below the objectives set for the national team.”

Burkina Faso reached the round of 16, where is lost 3-0 to defending champion Ivory Coast.

“This poor performance has caused deep disappointment among supporters, stakeholders in national football, and governing bodies,” the federation said.

“As a reminder, the clearly set-out objective before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup was to reach at least the semifinals, in line with the positive momentum and respectable performances achieved by the national team in previous editions.”

Burkina Faso also went out in the last 16 of the previous tournament. But the Stallions reached the semifinals of the 2021 edition, where they lost to eventual champion Senegal.

The federation thanked Traoré and his colleagues for their service since 2024 and said it “assures all supporters and partners that immediate steps will be taken to initiate a new selection process for a coaching staff.”

Burkina Faso did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Attention now turns to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

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AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations