Diallo stunner sends defending champions Côte d’Ivoire into AFCON quarter-finals
Amad Diallo was the standout performer as defending champions Côte d’Ivoire eased past Burkina Faso in a 3-0 victory to book a place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday, January 6.
The Manchester United winger gave the Elephants the lead in the 20th minute, bursting past a couple of defenders before delicately dinking the ball over goalkeeper Hervé Koffi from close range.
Twelve minutes later, Amad turned provider, setting up Yan Diomande, who curled a composed finish past the wrong-footed Koffi from just inside the penalty area to double Côte d’Ivoire’s advantage.
Burkina Faso nearly pulled one back before the break when Dango Ouattara’s right-footed effort from a tight angle struck the base of the left-hand post and rebounded into the arms of Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
Just after the hour mark, Fofana produced a sharp reaction save with his right boot to once again deny the Brentford forward, while at the other end Amad was prevented from grabbing a second by an equally impressive stop from Koffi.
Teenager Bazoumana Touré sealed the victory late on with a superb solo effort, surging forward from deep inside his own half before slotting a clinical finish inside the left-hand upright.
Emerse Faé’s men will now face record seven-time champions Egypt, who defeated Benin 3–1 after extra time on Monday, in a heavyweight quarter-final clash in Agadir on Saturday (19:00 GMT).
“First of all, we fought together as a team. Everyone is focused on contributing in whatever way they can. There is also a real chemistry on the pitch, a closeness between us that makes our play more fluid. There is a genuine connection, a certain rhythm in the way we play. No one is trying to be the hero or to shine individually for the country. If I have the chance to make the pass, I do it. It’s instinctive; I give him the ball. That’s how we play,” Diallo, Man of the Match, said in post match interview.
