Ivory Coast began their 2025 WAFU B U20 campaign with a convincing 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso on Friday, securing an early lead in Group B of the regional competition.
The West African derby, played at an intense pace, saw the Ivorian side strike first just before the half-time whistle. Forward Yaya Tapé produced a moment of brilliance in added time of the first half (45+2), curling a powerful right-footed shot past the Burkinabè goalkeeper to open the scoring.
Tapé’s standout performance earned him the man-of-the-match award, as he led the line with composure and technical finesse, embodying the intent and organisation instilled by coach Younès Zerdouk.
Ivory Coast continued to dictate the rhythm in the second half and doubled their advantage through Namory Keita in the 75th minute. The forward capitalised on a critical mistake by Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper, who failed to clear his line under pressure, allowing Keita to calmly slot the ball into the net.
Burkina Faso responded with determination and managed to pull a goal back just five minutes later. Salif Simporé found the net in the 80th minute, heading home from a corner to give his side a lifeline heading into the final moments.
Despite their best efforts, Burkina Faso struggled to break down a resolute Ivorian defence, which held firm through the closing stages and stoppage time.
The victory puts Ivory Coast temporarily at the top of Group B, with the remaining fixture between Niger and Togo yet to be played. The result also underscores the Elephanteaux’s ambition to secure a spot in the upcoming U20 Africa Cup of Nations, as they aim to return to the continental stage with purpose.
The performance from the Ivorian side showcased tactical discipline, physical commitment, and flashes of individual quality that could serve them well as the tournament progresses.
While Burkina Faso showed moments of promise and fought hard in the final quarter, they will now be under pressure to deliver a result in their next group match to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Ivory Coast’s next match will be closely watched as they seek to build on this strong start and move a step closer to their AFCON U20 objective.
