AFCON: Ivory Coast’s young Elephants trample Burkina Faso

Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande continued their impressive performances at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, with each player scoring a goal in Ivory Coast’s 3-0 Round of 16 victory over Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco.

Manchester United winger Diallo opened the scoring in the 20th minute before setting up Diomande to give the Elephants a 2-0 lead by halftime. Another rising talent, Hoffenheim attacker Bazoumana Touré, completed the scoring late on to compete a match where the Ivorians were fully in control.

Burkina Faso attempted to rally in the second half but failed to trouble their neighbors and defending AFCON champions, who came out on top in a West African derby.

The early stages of the match featured Ivorian dominance. Diallo regularly created danger for the Burkinabe defense, bursting into space in the 8th minute before firing wide with his right foot. Elephants captain Franck Kessié also threatened with a curling effort that went off target.

But an inevitable goal arrived soon after. Evann Guessand managed to control outside a crowded penalty area before the ball was tackled into the path of Diallo, who cleverly lifted his finish over onrushing Stallions goalkeeper Hervé Koffi.

And Diallo continued to cause all sorts of problems on the right wing. In the 32nd minute, his low cross found its way to Diomande for a low finish that left Koffi frozen in his boots as the ball nestled into the corner of the goal.

With a two-goal advantage at the half, Ivory Coast was content to focus on defense as the Stallions attempted to get back into the match. Burkina Faso star defender Edmond Tapsoba had a good opportunity from a free kick just outside the Ivorian penalty area but the Bayer Leverkusen player could not get his shot through the wall.

The two rivals exchanged opportunities in the final half hour. Koffi did brilliantly to deny Diallo with a kick save but could not prevent the Ivorians from adding one more goal when Touré got behind on the left wing and surprised the shot stopper with a clever finish at Koffi’s near post.

Ivory Coast will face Egypt in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Agadir.