The reigning champions, Ivory Coast, stored their dream of a second consecutive Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title alive with a commanding 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso within the Spherical of 16 on the Grand Stade de Marrakech. In a high-stakes West African derby, the “Elephants” demonstrated the scientific effectivity that has made them one of many favourites in AFCON 2025.
From the very first whistle, Ivory Coast managed the tempo, utilizing their high quality in midfield to dominate possession. The breakthrough got here within the nineteenth minute when Manchester United star Amad Diallo discovered area within the field and fired a exact shot previous the Burkinabé goalkeeper. A quick VAR evaluation for a possible foul within the buildup didn’t have an effect on the purpose, which set the tone for the remainder of the half.
Burkina Faso, recognized for his or her resilience, struggled to interrupt down a disciplined Ivorian defence led by Evan Ndicka. Their greatest probability got here simply earlier than halftime when Dango Ouattara rattled the woodwork with a robust strike, a reminder that the champions’ lead was not completely safe.
The second half noticed the Elephants put the sport past doubt. Within the 54th minute, Yan Diomandé produced a second of particular person brilliance, weaving previous Burkina Faso’s defence to double the lead. With a two-goal cushion, coach Emerse Faé’s facet managed the sport well, shutting down any hopes of a comeback. The win was sealed within the 87th minute when Bazoumana Touré scored the third purpose.
With this victory, Ivory Coast now advance to the quarter-finals to face Egypt, promising one other basic AFCON showdown. For Burkina Faso, the event ends with a way of “what if,” however for Ivory Coast, the dream of a fourth continental star stays alive.
