Ivory Coast meet Egypt in 2025 AFCON quarters after easing by Burkina Faso

Amad Diallo, a winger for Manchester United, led Ivory Coast to victory over Burkinabe 3-0 on Monday, making them the first African Cup of Nations defending champions to reach the quarterfinals since 2010.

Before half-time, Diallo scored the opening goal and Yan Diomande’s second. In Marrakech’s final minutes, substitute Bazoumana Toure put the finishing touches on the score.

Ivory Coast will now travel south to Agadir, Morocco, to take on record-eight-time champion Egypt on Saturday for a semifinal spot.

Seven title holders have failed to make the last eight since Egypt successfully defended the title in Angola 16 years ago.

After the group stage, Egypt and Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament, while Senegal and Cameroon made last-16 exits, while Zambia, Ivory Coast, and Algeria were eliminated.

After just five minutes of fouling Diallo, Burkinabe defender Adamo Nagalo was sent yellow. The Red Devil was disappointed by the Red Devil’s embarrassingly wide free kick that came along.

Franck Kessie tried to steer a shot into the roof of the net, but Ivory Coast were in charge and were dominating possession.

The title-holders advanced 20 minutes later with a sense of inevitability. Before striking the ball past goalkeeper Herve Koffi, Diallo swung his way past several defenders.

A VAR review confirmed the Sudanese referee’s decision to grant the goal despite Burkinabe’s request that it be disallowed despite the claim that Evann Guessand had body checked it.

The Ivorians’ dominance was so great that it was surprising when they jumped on top 32 minutes, at the foot of the Atlas mountain range, on a cold, dry night, at the foot of the Atlas mountains.

Diomande, 19, was the recipient of the ball this time; his superbly bent shot gave Koffi no chance as it flew into the left corner after Diallo provided the play.

As Brentford striker Dango Ouattara cut in from the right and struck the base of the post, in a remarkably rare raid, Burkinabe almost reduced the deficit. Yahia Fofana, a relief goalkeeper, grabbed the rebound.

As half-time approached, Burkinabe coach Brama Traore replaced Nagalo with midfielder Blati Toure. Georgi Minoungou replaced Lassina Traore in a different substitution during the break.

Burkinabe had more success in the opening 45 minutes despite being out of possession for the first 45 minutes and coming within one hour of scoring.

Fofana quickly reacted to Ouattara’s low cross and pushed the ball away from danger with his near post kick.

With 20 minutes left, Burkinabe Sunderland’s Bertrand Traore was introduced. He made his AFCON debut in 2012 as a 16-year-old, and he is now taking part in the competition six more times.

Diallo had a fantastic chance to score again thanks to an Ivorian counterattack, but Koffi used his leg to prevent a corner with a close-range shot.