Defending champions Ivory Coast produced a commanding display to dismantle Burkina Faso 3-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 round of 16 clash at the Stade de Marrakech on 6 January 2026, booking their place in the quarter-finals and breaking the so-called curse that has plagued recent title holders.
Dominant display from the Elephants
The Elephants, coached by Emerse Fae, dominated from the outset against their West African neighbours, showcasing a blend of youth and experience that has defined their tournament so far. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, emerging as one of the competition’s standout performers, opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Bustling past defenders with trademark directness, he dinked a clever finish past goalkeeper Herve Koffi from close range to give Ivory Coast a deserved lead.
The Stallions, featuring Brentford forward Dango Ouattara, struggled to impose themselves as Ivory Coast controlled possession and tempo. Just 12 minutes later, Diallo turned provider, laying on a precise pass for Yan Diomande, who curled a composed effort beyond the wrong-footed Koffi from the edge of the area to make it 2-0.
Burkina Faso threatened briefly before the interval when Ouattara’s right-footed strike from a tight angle cannoned off the base of the left post and into the arms of Ivorian keeper Yahia Fofana. The same player was denied again shortly after the hour, with Fofana producing a sharp reaction save with his right boot to preserve the clean sheet.
Diallo nearly added a second, only to be thwarted by an excellent stop from Koffi, but the game was sealed in the 87th minute by 19-year-old substitute Bazoumana Toure. The Hoffenheim prospect collected possession midway inside his own half, surged forward on a thrilling solo run, and finished clinically inside the left upright to round off a statement victory.
Breaking the defending champion curse
The result marks a significant milestone for Ivory Coast, who become the first defending champions to reach the quarter-finals since Egypt in 2010 – a tournament the Pharaohs went on to win. Fae’s side have navigated the knockout stages with authority, building on their group-topping campaign where they edged Cameroon on goals scored after a dramatic comeback against Gabon.
Burkina Faso, runners-up in their group, exit the competition despite flashes of promise, undone by Ivory Coast’s superior quality and clinical finishing.
Ivory Coast now face a heavyweight quarter-final against record seven-time champions Egypt, who advanced with a 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin on 5 January. The clash, scheduled for Saturday in Agadir at 19.00 GMT, promises fireworks as the Elephants seek to end a long wait for back-to-back titles and continue their quest for continental glory.
With emerging talents like Diallo and Toure firing, alongside established stars, the Elephants remain strong contenders to defend their crown in Morocco’s festive edition of the tournament.
