Ivory Coast’s U17 side will take to the pitch on Friday with one objective in mind—ending their African Cup of Nations campaign on a high.
After a heart-wrenching semi-final exit to Morocco via penalties, the Elephants now turn their attention to the third-place playoff against Burkina Faso.
For head coach Bassiriki Diabaté, the bronze medal match presents more than just a shot at redemption—it’s an opportunity to celebrate the collective effort of his squad throughout the tournament.
“It would be nice to finish on a high note, but we want to go there with all the players,” Diabaté said during the pre-match press conference. “We have to achieve this performance with the bench as well. Some will think it’s a risk, but the most important thing is to return to Ivory Coast with the feeling that the whole group has participated in the adventure.”
The Ivorian camp has worked to recover from the disappointment of missing out on the final, focusing instead on team spirit and shared experience.
Diabaté has stressed the value of involving every squad member, reinforcing the belief that the journey should be as fulfilling as the result.
As the Elephants prepare to meet a similarly determined Burkina Faso side, anticipation is building around a potential clash between two of the tournament’s brightest young forwards.
However, Diabaté was quick to redirect attention from individual accolades.
“In his mind, Haidara, finishing as top scorer is not his primary objective,” the coach noted, in reference to his striker’s role. “I’m not comparing Haidara to Tapsoba, as their goals are different. The important thing is to note that Africa continues to produce classy strikers.”
Acknowledging the unpredictable nature of knockout football, Diabaté admitted that the match could go the distance once again.
“All matches are played in different contexts. Taking one into account, tomorrow we will experience precious moments that will present uncontrollable factors,” he said. “This match could go to penalties. But whatever the scenario, we want to leave this AFCON with pride.”
With emotions still raw from their semi-final exit, Ivory Coast now aims to channel that disappointment into a final display of resilience.
For Diabaté and his young team, Friday’s game is not only about a medal, but a closing chapter written with unity, pride, and purpose.
