Ivory Coast cruise past Burkina Faso to reach AFCON quarter-finals

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Ivory Coast delivered a commanding performance to defeat Burkina Faso 3–0 in their Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 clash on Tuesday night, sealing a convincing passage into the quarter-finals.

The Elephants set the tone early, dominating possession and tempo, and were rewarded in the 20th minute when Amad Diallo capped a brilliant solo run by calmly rounding the goalkeeper and finishing into an empty net.

The goal underlined Ivory Coast’s early superiority and unsettled a Burkina Faso side struggling to cope with the pace and movement of their opponents.

Ivory Coast doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute after Diallo turned provider, sliding a precise pass into the box for Yan Diomande, who slotted home confidently to make it 2–0 before the break.

Burkina Faso showed brief flashes of threat, most notably when Dango Ouattara struck the post with a fine solo effort late in the first half, but Ivory Coast’s defensive organisation ensured their lead remained intact.

The African champions maintained control after the restart, managing the game with authority and depth from the bench.

Any lingering hopes of a Burkina Faso comeback were extinguished in the 87th minute when Bazoumana Toure completed the rout with a composed finish following another incisive run into the penalty area.

The win marked a statement performance from Ivory Coast, who combined attacking flair with defensive discipline to shut out their neighbours.

With confidence growing and key players hitting form, the Elephants now march into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, to meet Egypt.