--- title: "Return to the national team: Shakhtar striker Lassina Traoré called up for AFCON 2027 qualifiers" description: "Donetsk Shakhtar striker Lassina Traoré has been called up to the Burkina Faso national team for the September African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and the Central African Republic — a full return to the team for him." date: 2026-09-18T10:02:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/lassina-traore-shakhtar-called-up-burkina-faso-afcon-2027-qualifiers tags: [lassina-traore, shakhtar-donetsk, burkina-faso, afcon-2027-qualifiers, football] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Return to the national team: Shakhtar striker Lassina Traoré called up for AFCON 2027 qualifiers ![Shakhtar striker Lassin Traore posing with the DR Congo flag against an orange geometric background](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/19/lassina-traore-poluchil-vyzov-v-sbornuyu-burkina-faso/lassina-traore-poluchil-vyzov-v-sbornuyu-burkina-faso-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Lassina Traoré of Donetsk Shakhtar has been called up to the Burkina Faso national team for the September AFCON 2027 qualifier matches. - This is a full return for the forward to the national team after his appearance in January 2026 at the final stage of the African Cup of Nations. - In the qualifiers, Burkina Faso will play Benin on September 25 and the Central African Republic on September 28; Traoré has 31 caps and 13 goals for the national team. - In the current season, the 25-year-old striker has played 3 official matches for Shakhtar without any goal contributions. Lassina Traoré, striker for Donetsk's Shakhtar, has been called up to the Burkina Faso national team. The forward is included in the squad for the September matches of the African Cup of Nations qualifying cycle, in which the Burkinabè will face the national teams of Benin and the Central African Republic. For the 25-year-old player, this call-up marks a full return to the national team setup after a break. ### Return after a break The last time Lassina Traoré played for the Burkina Faso national team was in January 2026, during the final stage of the African Cup of Nations. Since then, the forward has not been called up to the national team, so the September series of matches will mark his return to the squad he has represented for several years. The national team coaching staff deemed it necessary to include the striker again in the preparation plan for the key qualifying matches. ### Statistics and role in the national team In the Burkina Faso national team, Traoré holds an important place in the team's attacking line. According to available data, he has 31 caps and 13 goals in the national team shirt. These figures confirm the forward's status as one of the most prolific and regularly called-up attacking players of the national team, on whom the team relies in decisive qualifying matches. ### Qualifying match schedule As part of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Burkina Faso national team will play two consecutive matches at the end of September 2026. On September 25, the team will face the national team of Benin, and on September 28 it will meet the team of the Central African Republic. Both games will be played within a tight timeframe, which makes the squad and the physical condition of the players, including newly called-up ones, especially important for achieving the desired result in the qualifiers. ### Situation at Donetsk Shakhtar In the current season, Lassina Traoré has already played three official matches for Donetsk Shakhtar, but has not yet recorded any goal contributions. Thus, the call-up to the national team coincides with a period when the forward has not yet found his optimal scoring form at the club level, making his participation in the qualifying matches an additional factor for gaining match practice and confidence ahead of further club appearances. ### Contradictory data The main text and a number of sources clearly indicate that in September the Burkina Faso national team will play the national teams of Benin (September 25) and the Central African Republic (September 28) in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. At the same time, in the headline of one of the sources referring to the call-up of the Shakhtar forward to the national team, Argentina is mentioned among the opponents, which does not match the list of opponents confirmed in the primary text and other materials. Until clarified by official information from the football federation and the Burkina Faso national team, the version of matches against Benin and the Central African Republic is considered correct, and the mention of Argentina in a separate headline requires additional verification. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Return to the national team: Shakhtar striker called up for AFCON 2027 qualifier matches](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/povernennya-zbirnoyi-napadnik-shahtarya-otrimav-1789725596.html) - Базовый источник: вызов Траоре, матчи против Бенина (25.09) и ЦАР (28.09), возвращение после января, 31 матч и 13 голов, 3 матча за «Шахтер» без голов. - [Lassina Traoré of Shakhtar to play for the Burkina Faso national team](https://korrespondent.net/sport/football/4912693-lassyna-traore-yz-shakhtera-poedet-yhrat-za-sbornuui-burkyna-faso) - Подтверждает факт вызова форварда «Шахтера» в сборную Буркина-Фасо. - [Shakhtar forward called up to the national team: among the opponents - Argentina](https://www.ua-football.com/ukrainian/high/1789728686-forvard-shahtera-poluchil-vyzov-v-sbornuyu-sredi-sopernikov-argentina.html) - В заголовке среди соперников упомянута Аргентина, что не совпадает с подтвержденным перечнем (Бенин, ЦАР). Требует уточнения. - [Lassina Traoré invited to the Burkina Faso national team](https://terrikon.com/posts/584324) - Подтверждает приглашение Лассины Траоре в сборную Буркина-Фасо. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who was called up to the Burkina Faso national team? **A:** The call-up was received by Donetsk Shakhtar striker Lassina Traoré. ### Q: Which teams will Burkina Faso play in September? **A:** According to confirmed data, on September 25 — against the national team of Benin, and on September 28 — against the national team of the Central African Republic, as part of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. ### Q: When did Traoré last play for the national team? **A:** In January 2026, during the final stage of the African Cup of Nations; the September matches will mark his return to the national team. ### Q: What is Traoré's statistics for the Burkina Faso national team? **A:** He has 31 caps and 13 goals in the national team shirt. ### Q: How is the forward performing for Shakhtar in the current season? **A:** In the current season, the 25-year-old striker has played 3 official matches for Donetsk Shakhtar and has not yet recorded any goal contributions.