Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire delivered a statement performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Marrakech on Tuesday evening (6 January), beating Burkina Faso 3–0 on to set up a quarter-final meeting with Egypt on Saturday (10 January).
The Elephants seized control early, with Manchester United forward Amad Diallo at the heart of everything. After 20 minutes, the winger showed quick feet and composure, breaking through on goal and calmly lifting the ball over the advancing Hervé Koffi to open the scoring with his third goal of the tournament.
Côte d’Ivoire doubled their lead shortly after the half-hour mark, with Diallo again influential. Turning provider, he drove down the right and pulled back a precise cutback for Yan Diomandé, who swept a first-time finish beyond Koffi to give the Ivorians a comfortable two-goal cushion at the interval.
After the break, Côte d’Ivoire continued to press, Diallo forcing Koffi into action with an effort tipped over the bar. Burkina Faso’s attempts to mount a response only left them exposed, and they were punished in spectacular fashion when Bazoumana Touré surged from deep inside his own half before firing a ferocious near-post strike past Koffi to seal the win. It was a goal worthy of any tournament highlight reel.
The quarter-final place means this is the farthest a defending champion has travelled in AFCON since Egypt’s run to a third consecutive title back in 2010.
