AFCON 2025: Reigning champions get to last 8
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All original articlesThe West African derby for Ivory Coast. Favorite at the start of this eighth final, the reigning champion folded after half an hour of play and qualified for the quarter-finals of the CAN 2025 thanks to this overwhelming success (3-0) against Burkina Faso.
Half an hour of high intensity
The Elephants were determined as never before for this fratricidal duel. And this translated into their aggression from the start of the match with a high pressing that became unbreathable for the Stallions. In difficulty from the first minutes of the match, Burkina Faso will take their claws out, like this big foul by Adamo Nagalo on Amad Diallo, sanctioned by a yellow card after five minutes of play.
By pushing, Côte d'Ivoire will find the solution in the 20th minute thanks to their best player in this competition. Amad Diallo, on an exquisite pass from Yan Diomandé, beat Hervé Koffi with a subtle lob to put the Elephants in front of the score.
Twelve minutes later, the passer will turn into a scorer on a pass from Amad Diallo for the break in favor of Côte d'Ivoire (32'), who dominated from start to finish this first period. Apart from the post found by Dango Ouattara, Burkina Faso will have had nothing in this first half.
Egypt in the quarter-finals for Côte d'Ivoire
Emerse Faé’s men slowed down in the second period and were no longer pushing. The Stallions thus gained confidence and obtained several opportunities, but still unable to bring down the Ivorian defensive bloc.
In the obligation to project themselves to close the gap and dream, Burkina Faso exposed themselves at the very end of the match and conceded a third goal. The newly introduced, Bazoumana Touré on a counter-attack hit the nail (87th) and definitely sent Côte d'Ivoire into the quarter finals.
The Elephants will face Egypt on Saturday (19h GMT) in Agadir to try to validate their ticket for the semi-finals.