Defending champions Ivory Coast kept their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 title defence firmly on track with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Burkina Faso in a West African derby in the Round of 16.
Playing at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, the Elephants delivered a composed and clinical performance that underlined their status as one of the favourites for the tournament.
Ivory Coast asserted control from the outset, dictating the tempo through a dominant midfield display and exploiting their technical superiority. Their early pressure paid off in the 19th minute when Manchester United winger Amad Diallo broke the deadlock. Finding space inside the penalty area, Diallo unleashed a precise finish beyond the reach of the Burkinabé goalkeeper. A brief VAR review checked a possible infringement in the build-up, but the goal was allowed to stand.
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Burkina Faso attempted to respond but found it difficult to breach a well-organised Ivorian defence marshalled by Evan Ndicka. The Stallions came closest just before halftime when Dango Ouattara struck a powerful effort that crashed against the woodwork, a warning sign that Ivory Coast could not afford complacency.
The champions, however, wasted little time after the break. Nine minutes into the second half, Yan Diomandé produced a moment of individual brilliance, gliding past multiple defenders before calmly slotting home to make it 2–0.
With a comfortable cushion, coach Emerse Faé’s side expertly managed the game, limiting Burkina Faso’s attacking threat and maintaining defensive discipline. The victory was sealed in the 87th minute when Bazoumana Touré added a third goal to cap a dominant display.
The result sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown with Egypt, renewing one of AFCON’s most storied rivalries. For Burkina Faso, the competition ends in disappointment, but for the Ivory Coast, the quest for a fourth continental crown remains very much alive.