Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso will square off on Friday, July 11, in Pram Pram, just outside Accra, as the 2025 UFOA-B U20 tournament kicks off with one of its most eagerly awaited fixtures.
The two West African sides meet in a rematch steeped in recent history.
During the last U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Lomé, it was the Ivorian Elephants who emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win over the Burkinabe Stallions.
That result still lingers, and the Stallions now arrive in Ghana determined to turn the tide.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Thursday, Burkina Faso’s head coach Boureima Kaboré made no effort to hide his ambitions.
We’re here to win the tournament, he declared confidently. My players are ready for the challenge.
Following their arrival in Pram Pram, the Stallions have completed their final preparations, opting for a lighter session on the eve of the clash.
The focus, according to the coaching staff, was on mental conditioning and recovery—underscoring the importance of both psychological resilience and physical readiness.
Ivory Coast, for its part, is equally determined.
Head coach Younès Zerdouk and his squad have been fine-tuning their approach in Abidjan over recent weeks.
With training sessions centered on tactical discipline and maintaining possession, the Elephants are eager to make a statement in their tournament opener.
On Thursday, they held a closed training session to execute their final tactical setups, fine-tuning their strategy with precision and purpose.
𝗪𝗔𝗙𝗨 𝗕 𝗨-𝟮𝟬 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗦
📆 11.07.2025
🇨🇮 X 🇧🇫
🕓 15 GMT🇳🇪 X 🇹🇬
🕓 18 GMT
🏟️ Centre Prampram #ZONEWESTB | #WAFUBU20 pic.twitter.com/QFi6gcjBNm— ZONE OUEST B (@UfoawafuB) July 11, 2025
According to team officials, the group is in high spirits and ready to replicate their previous success against Burkina Faso.
Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 15:00 GMT.
As confirmed by the organizing committee, Burkina Faso will take to the field in white, while Ivory Coast will don their traditional orange kits.
With both teams boasting recent form and ambition, and with regional pride on the line, Friday’s opener promises to deliver not only intensity but also early indications of the favourites in this year’s competition.
Fans across West Africa and beyond will be watching closely as two continental hopefuls collide in what promises to be a defining early moment of the 2025 UFOA-B U20 tournament.
