AFCON 2025 (Round of 16)
- Côte d’Ivoire 3-0 Burkina Faso
Cote d’Ivoire outsmarted Burkina Faso 3-0 in the last round of 16 contest at AFCON 2025 at the Stade Grand Marrakech on a chilly Tuesday night.
Goals from Amad Diallo, Yan Diomande and second-half substitute Bazoumana Toure inspired the defending champions to a well-deserved victory before 24,019 spectators.
Dancing from the right flank, Manchester United’s Diallo set the ball rolling with a trademark strike on 19 minutes, a deft chip over the advancing goalkeeper Koffi Kouakou.
RB Leipzig’s Diomande added the second on the half hour mark, thanks to Diallo’s well-laid ball from the right as the Elephants commanded a 2-0 lead by the halfway mark.
Brentford’s Aboubacar Ouattara Dango had Burkina Faso’s best chance of the first half when his shot from an acute angle kissed the lower post before the goalkeeper Yahia Fofana dived to collect the ball in his path.
Burkina Faso called for a first-half change when Adamo Nagalo paved way for Ibrahim Toure in the 43rd minute.
As the second half kicked off, Burkina Faso called off Lassima Traore for Georgi Minoungou.
Burkina Faso had a brilliant start to the second half but Cote d’Ivoire’s organized backline remained solid.
On the hour mark, Diallo had a free kick easily picked out by goalkeeper Koffi. Two Ivorian players, Christ Ravynel Inao Oulai and Ibrahim Sangare, picked up cautions in quick succession.
The Cote D’Ivoire offensive run continued when Toure of Pyramids in Egypt hits a free-kick into the defensive wall in the 67th minute.
Diallo was denied by goalkeeper Koffi with a quarter an hour of action to play during a one-on-one situation.
Second-half substitute Bazoumana applied the icing on the already baked cake with a clinical finish past the goalkeeper following a great solo run on the left flank.
Côte d’Ivoire will now face Egypt in the quarterfinal.
Team Line Ups:
Côte 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 (Côte 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)