Amad Diallo Leads Ivory Coast Into AFCON Quarterfinals

Champions show their class in Marrakesh

Defending champions Ivory Coast booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals with a convincing 3-0 victory over neighbours Burkina Faso in Marrakesh. Once again, Amad Diallo was the standout performer, delivering another composed and decisive display on the continental stage.

The Elephants, crowned champions on home soil in 2024, now move on to a heavyweight quarterfinal clash against Egypt and Mohamed Salah in Agadir on Saturday. In doing so, they became the first reigning AFCON champions since 2010 to win a knockout match in their title defence.

Amad inspires a dominant first half

Ivory Coast set the tone early, with Amad’s pace and footwork causing immediate problems for the Burkina Faso defence. Adamo Nagalo was booked inside five minutes for hauling down the Manchester United winger, who then forced goalkeeper Hervé Koffi into a sharp save moments later.

Captain Franck Kessié went close twice as the pressure mounted, but the breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute. After Evan Guessand battled to regain possession, Amad danced through three defenders inside the box and calmly lifted the ball over Koffi to open the scoring.

Burkina Faso protested a possible foul in the buildup, but VAR upheld the decision. The Stallions barely had time to regroup before Ivory Coast struck again. Amad surged down the right flank and delivered a perfectly weighted pass for teenage talent Yan Diomande, who fired home emphatically to make it 2-0 after 32 minutes.

Burkina Faso rally but Ivory Coast stay firm

The Stallions attempted to respond, with Dango Ouattara hitting the post before half-time, offering a brief moment of hope. After the break, Burkina Faso increased the tempo, and Ouattara again tested Yahia Fofana shortly after the hour mark.

Despite the pressure, Ivory Coast remained composed and always looked dangerous on the counterattack.

Touré seals it as focus turns to Egypt

Any lingering doubt was removed late on when substitute Bazoumana Touré capped the performance with a third goal in the 87th minute. The 19-year-old burst forward from deep and finished confidently at the near post, underlining his emergence as one of the tournament’s breakout stars.

Ivory Coast now turn their attention to Egypt, a side with a formidable quarterfinal pedigree. With Amad in sparkling form and momentum building, the champions’ title defence is very much alive.