The Ivory Coast Elephants delivered a decisive statement, outclassing Burkina Faso with a commanding 3-0 victory to secure their place in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 quarter-finals. The win sets up a colossal showdown with Egypt.
From the outset, Ivory Coast displayed superior intent, led by the tournament's standout performer Amad Diallo, who was awarded Man of the Match for an unprecedented third time, was instrumental in the win opening the scoring in the 20th minute before turning provider for Yan Diomande's powerful shot just before halftime Substitute Bazoumana Touré iced the win with a superb solo goal in the 87th minute, completing a performance that blended attacking flair with defensive solidity.
Ivory Coast's victory completed the quarter-final lineup after a tense knockout stage.
Other last-16 results saw powerhouses  Nigeria (4-0 vs Mozambique) and Senegal (3-1 vs Sudan) advance comfortably, while Algeria and Egypt needed extra time to overcome DR Congo and Benin, respectively.
The stage is now set for four blockbuster matches (all times GMT):
· Friday, 9 January: Mali vs Senegal (4:00 PM)EA 6:00,
. Cameroon vs Morocco (7:00 PM)EA 7:00
· Saturday, 10 January: Nigeria vs Algeria (4:00 PM)EA 6:00
. Egypt vs Ivory Coast (7:00 PM)EA 9:00 The winner of the monumental Egypt-Ivory Coast clash will face the victor of the Mali-Senegal derby in the semi-finals.
Whereas the winner between Nigeria and Algeria faces the winner between Cameroon and Morocco.
For the defending champions, the emphatic win reignites the nation's belief. However, the ultimate test awaits in Agadir against the record seven-time champions, Egypt. This quarter-final represents more than a match—it's a battle between tournament pedigree and current momentum, with a place in the final four at stake.Â
