Manchester United’s Amad Diallo delivered another dazzling performance as defending champions Ivory Coast swept aside Burkina Faso 3-0 in Marrakesh, becoming the first reigning AFCON champions since 2010 to win a knockout match whilst defending their title.
The 22-year-old winger, who has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, opened the scoring with a composed finish in the 20th minute before setting up teenage wonderkid Yan Diomande for the second goal 12 minutes later. Substitute Bazoumana Touré added a late third to seal a comprehensive victory that sets up a quarter-final showdown with Egypt in Agadir on Saturday.
Ivory Coast, who rallied from 2-0 down to beat Gabon in their final group match, carried that momentum into this West African derby. Coach Emerse Faé, who took over as caretaker during last year’s tournament and guided Les Éléphants to glory on home soil, has transformed this side into a cohesive unit that blends attacking flair with defensive solidity.
The Elephants dominated from the outset, with Amad proving impossible for Burkina Faso’s defenders to contain. In the fifth minute, Edmond Tapsoba’s clumsy challenge on the United winger earned the Bayer Leverkusen defender a yellow card, setting the tone for a frustrating evening for the Stallions.
Amad’s moment of magic arrived in the 20th minute. Aston Villa forward Evan Guessand won possession through sheer determination before laying the ball to Amad, who wriggled through three challenges inside the penalty area with mesmerising footwork. The winger then calmly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Hervé Koffi to give Ivory Coast the lead.
VAR examined whether Guessand had committed a foul during the build-up after protests from Burkina Faso players, but after a lengthy review, the goal stood. The Stallions attempted to slow the game’s tempo, but Ivory Coast’s attacking trio of Amad, Guessand and Diomande proved too dynamic.
The second goal arrived in the 32nd minute and showcased the understanding developing within this Ivorian side. Amad embarked on another mazy run down the right flank that neither Adamo Nagalo nor Arsène Kouassi could contain. His low cross found Lyon’s 18-year-old midfielder Diomande, who rifled a first-time finish past Koffi from close range.
Burkina Faso came closest to reducing the deficit before half-time when Bournemouth winger Dango Ouattara struck the post with a low effort, but that proved to be their only significant threat. The Stallions, who finished second in Group E behind Algeria, struggled to create chances throughout, managing just two shots on target compared to Ivory Coast’s nine attempts.
After the interval, Ivory Coast continued to control proceedings without extending their lead. Ghislain Konan’s free-kick delivery found Chelsea defender Odilon Kossounou, whose header was well saved by Koffi. Guéla Doué then flicked an Amad free-kick narrowly over the crossbar as the Elephants pressed for a third.
Faé introduced substitutes Jean-Philippe Krasso and Touré with 20 minutes remaining, allowing his side to manage the closing stages. Touré, who scored the dramatic late winner against Gabon in the group stage, sealed victory three minutes from time when he rounded Koffi after a swift counter-attack.
For Burkina Faso coach Brama Traoré, the defeat ends a campaign that promised more. The Stallions, who reached the final in 2013, showed glimpses of quality but were ultimately outclassed by a side operating at a different level.
Ivory Coast’s victory maintains their remarkable record at this tournament. The Elephants have now won seven consecutive AFCON matches dating back to the knockout stages of their 2023 triumph, and Faé’s tactical acumen continues to draw praise across the continent.
With Amad in inspired form and the blend of youth and experience functioning seamlessly, Ivory Coast will fancy their chances of becoming the first nation to retain the AFCON title since Egypt’s three consecutive triumphs between 2006 and 2010.
