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Rabat — Reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso face off in the final Round of 16 match of AFCON 2025, with a place in the quarter-finals on the line. This match will determine who will face Egypt in the last eight.
Côte d’Ivoire qualified for the knockout stage after finishing top of their group, and Burkina Faso progressed as one of the strongest second-place teams. Both sides arrive with momentum from the group phase and a history of close, competitive encounters.
This match will be the third time the two nations have faced each other at AFCON tournaments, but it is their first-ever encounter in the knockout stage. Their previous meetings came in the group stage, resulting in a goalless draw in 2010 and a 2–0 victory for Côte d’Ivoire in 2012. The Ivorians have successfully kept a clean sheet in both of their prior tournament clashes.
This will be the third meeting between the two nations at the AFCON and their first-ever one in the knockout rounds. They previously met twice in the group stage of AFCON, with a goalless draw in 2010 and a 2–0 win for Côte d’Ivoire in 2012. The Ivorians have kept a clean sheet in both games.
Match details
- Fixture: Côte d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso
- Competition: CAF Africa Cup of Nations—Round of 16
- Venue: Grand Stade Marrakech—Marrakech, Morocco
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT+1
- Referee: Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire 🆚 Burkina Faso 🇧🇫
Ninety minutes to decide it. Who comes out on top?#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/wEu2SX7uIh
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 6, 2026
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast on beIN Sports MENA Max, beIN Sports, Canal+ Afrique, NCI, SuperSport, RTB and Arryadia TNT.
Côte d’Ivoire Team News
Côte d’Ivoire enter the Round of 16 unbeaten in their last seven AFCON matches and have shown a clear pattern of growing into games. The defending champions topped their group with wins over Mozambique and Gabon and a draw against Cameroon.
The Ivorians have been particularly effective in the second half, with the vast majority of their goals at this tournament coming after the break. Under coach Emerse Faé, Côte d’Ivoire have combined strong possession play with late attacking impact, leading the competition in passing accuracy.
Côte d’Ivoire have a solid recent record at this stage of the tournament. They defeated Mali in the 2019 Round of 16, lost on penalties to Egypt in 2021, and edged Senegal on penalties in 2023. Notably, they have never lost an AFCON Round of 16 match in open play.
Amad Diallo has been one of their standout performers, scoring twice so far, and Franck Kessié continues to provide leadership and creativity in midfield.
Burkina Faso Team News
Burkina Faso progressed from the group stage with wins over Equatorial Guinea and Sudan, despite a defeat to Algeria. This is their third consecutive appearance in the Round of 16 since the format was introduced.
The Stallions have yet to win a Round of 16 match in open play. They advanced on penalties in 2021 but were eliminated at this stage in 2023 by Mali.
At the current tournament, Burkina Faso have shown attacking threat, with Dango Ouattara scoring two goals and leading the team in chances created.
Defensively, Edmond Tapsoba has been leading the team in passing and ball progression.
- Score Prediction: Côte d’Ivoire 1–0 Burkina Faso
