Reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast will continue their title defence with a round of 16 showdown against Burkina Faso at Marrakech Stadium on Tuesday.
Aiming to become the first nation to retain the continental crown since Egypt’s three-edition dominance between 2006 and 2010, the Elephants advanced to the knockout phase after finishing top of Group E, edging Cameroon on goals scored.
Emerse Fae’s side opened their campaign with a narrow victory over Mozambique before grinding out a draw against Cameroon, and they capped off the group stage with a dramatic comeback win against Gabon.
Ivory Coast overturned a two-goal deficit against the Panthers, with Bazoumana Toure’s stoppage-time header completing a remarkable turnaround as the holders snatched top spot at the death.
Burkina Faso, meanwhile, progressed as runners-up in Group E. The Stallions began with a spirited comeback victory over Equatorial Guinea, suffered a narrow defeat to Algeria, and then closed the group phase with a convincing triumph against Sudan.
That result ensured Burkina Faso reached the AFCON knockout stages for the fifth time in their last six appearances. Runners-up in 2013, though the Stallions exited at this stage in the previous edition and will be determined to avoid a repeat as they chase a maiden continental title.
How the bookies view it: Elephants more than twice as likely
Ivory Coast enter the contest as clear favourites, with Ladbrokes pricing the holders at 3/4, an implied probability more than double that of Burkina Faso, who are available at 16/5.
Recent head-to-head: Even balance between the sides
This will be the first AFCON meeting between the sides since Ivory Coast’s 2-1 victory in 2012. Across their six subsequent encounters, both nations have recorded two regulation-time wins, while the remaining two came in the 2022 African Nations Championship qualifiers, where goalless draws across both legs saw Ivory Coast advance on penalties.
Players to watch: Amad Diallo to extend scoring streak?
No Ivory Coast player has scored more goals at this AFCON than Amad Diallo, who found the net in both group games he started and is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday after being introduced as a substitute in the previous game.
Probable lineups
Ivory Coast have no fresh injury concerns, while Burkina Faso may be without Herve Koffi and Cyriaque Irie after both were forced off in their previous outing.
Ivory Coast: Y Fofana; Konan, Ndicka, Kossounou, Doue; Kessie, Sangare, J Seri; Guessand, Krasso, Diallo
Burkina Faso: Koffi; Yago, Dayo, Tapsoba, Kouassi; Sangare, Ouedraogo, Toure; B Traore, L Traore, Ouattara
Anything else that catches the eye?
Ivory Coast recorded over 9.5 corners in all three group games, while Burkina Faso averaged 10 corners per match during the same phase.
Only one side or neither found the net in seven of the last nine meetings between the two nations, a pattern reinforced by the fact that just three of Burkina Faso’s last nine matches saw both teams score.
Timing could also be key, with four of Ivory Coast’s five goals at this AFCON arriving after the break, while three of Burkina Faso’s four group-stage strikes came beyond the 75th minute.
GambleAware