AFCON 2025 (Round of 16)
- Cote D’Ivoire 2-0 Burkina Faso (Half Time)
It is a very cold night in Marrakech, the venue for the final round of 16 duel between Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso in all West African affair.
Inside the Grand Stade Marrakech, the contest remains as hot as flowing magma of an active volcano.
By the opening half of the game, it is Cote D’Ivoire ahead 2-0 with comfortability, confidence and precision.
Goals by Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande give the AFCON reigning champions an edge coming to final 45 minutes.
It has been a one way traffic duel and the score line could have read otherwise had Fae Emerse’s coached charges converted all the opportunities created.
Burkina Faso’s best chance of the evening came through Brentford’s Aboubacar Ouattara Dango whose shot off an acute angle on the right hit the lower post before the goalkeeper Yahia Fofana dived and picked up the ball in the 39th minute.
There is a change as well for Burkina Faso with Adamo Nagalo paving way for Ibrahim Toure towards the end of the first half.
There is still a lot of football that will come in the closing 45 minutes. Who knows we can witness a comeback or Cote D’Ivoire will go for a killer.
Team Line Ups:
Cote D’Ivoire XI: Yahia Fofana (G.K), Konan Ghislain N’clomande, Dorgeless Kossounou Odilon Kouakou, Franck Yannick Kessie (Captain), Amad Diallo, Lewis Doue Maho Guela,, Ibrahima Sangare, Christ Ravynel Inao Oulai, Evan Ndicka Obite, Evann Ludovis Vidjannagni Guessand, Yan Diomande
Subs: Alban Marc Lafont (G.K), Mohamed Kone (G.K), Ousmane Diomande, Jean Michael Seri, Armel Junior Zohouri, Seko Mohamed Fofana, Issouf Bayo Vakouni, Dango Aboubacour, Dazet Wilfried Armel Zaha, Jean Phillipe Nils Stephan Krasso, Willy Arnaud Zobo Boly, Opperi Christopher Tea Domoraud, Oumar Diakite, Badobre Emmanuel Elyesse Djedje Agbadou
Head coach: Fae Emerse (Cote D’Ivoire)
Burkina Faso XI: Kouakou Koffi (G.K), Lassina Chamste Soudine Traore, Adamo Nagalo, Dango Aboubacar Ouattara, Edmond Tapsoba, Issoufou Dayo (Captain), Ismahila Ouedraogo, Kalou Irie Bi, Saidou Simpore, Steeve Yago, Guy Kouassi Kan
Subs: Soufiane Ouedraogo (G.K), Kilian Basba Nikiema (G.K), Pierre Kabore, Abdoul Ayinde, Yacouba Djiga, Mohamed Zougrana, Cedric Badolo, Issa Kabore, Bertrand Traore, Ousseni Bouda, Stephane Ki, Georgi Minoungou, Gustavo Sangare, Ibrahim Traore
Head coach: Brama Traore (Burkina Faso)
Match officials:
Center Referee: Mahmood Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)
Assistant Referee 1: Liban Abdourazak Ahmed (Djibouti)
Assistant Referee 2: Dimbiniaina Andriatinarivelo (Madagascar)
Fourth official: Ahmad Heeralall (Mauritani)
Commissioner: Mohamed Moumin (Djibouti)
General Coordinator: Eric Otogo Castane (Gabon)
Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR): Sadou Ali Brahamou (Nigeria)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR)1: Babacar Sarr (Mauritania)