Only Manchester City‘s Erling Haaland has eclipsed Brentford‘s Brazilian striker Igor Thiago’s 11 goals in this season’s Premier League, while Ouattara has also played an important role by scoring three times and winning four penalties – the most of any player in the division.

Burkina Faso international Ouattara is now poised to feature at a third successive Afcon, where he will hope for a greater impact after an injury restricted him to one start during his country’s run to the last 16 in 2023.

While at French club Lorient, Ouattara was part of the Stallions side which beat Gabon on penalties to reach the quarter-finals in 2021 and scored the only goal in their surprise win over Tunisia in the last eight, although his late dismissal in that game ruled him out of their semi-final defeat to eventual champions Senegal.

“There are people who have been here much longer and who have played at more Afcons, who are more experienced than me,” said the 23-year-old.

“There are some playing their first Afcon, some their second. Everyone has a role to play.”

One member of the Burkina Faso squad who has a key role is Sunderland forward Bertrand Traore, the Stallions skipper.

The 30-year-old is approaching 100 caps for his country and Ouattara says his quiet authority is important.

“If he has something to tell you, he’ll tell you. If there’s something you could correct, he’ll try to get you to correct it.

“He’s someone who is calm. He speaks when he has something positive to contribute. If it’s not necessary to speak, he won’t.”

Ouattara could face former Bee Mbeumo as early as the last-16 stage in Morocco, with Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka’s Nigeria potential opponents later in the knockout stage.

Burkina Faso start against Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca on Wednesday (12:30 GMT), the same day Group E opponents Algeria and Sudan face off in Rabat (15:00 GMT).