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CAF
19-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Cote d'Ivoire edge Burkina Faso on penalties to clinch TotalEnergies U-17 AFCON bronze
Published: Friday, 18 April 2025 Cote d'Ivoire claimed third place at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic 5-2 penalty shootout win over Burkina Faso at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca on Friday. After a fiercely contested 1-1 draw in regular time, the Young Elephants held their nerve in the shootout, converting all four of their spot kicks while Burkina Faso missed two of their opening three efforts. Burkina Faso had taken a deserved lead in the 28th minute when Halidou Diakité fired home from the centre of the box after a corner caused chaos in the Ivorian defence. The Stallions dominated large spells of the first half, applying pressure through quick transitions and physical duels in midfield. But Cote d'Ivoire regrouped in the second half, inspired by impactful substitutions, and eventually levelled the contest in the 84th minute. Alynho Haïdara, one of the substitutes, turned home from close range after a well-worked move that started on the left flank. The final minutes of normal time were frenetic. Burkina Faso were reduced to 10 men when Prince Ouédraogo was shown a straight red card following a VAR review in the 90th minute. Cote d'Ivoire pressed for a late winner, but the Burkinabe defence held firm, taking the match to penalties. In the shootout, Cote d'Ivoire were flawless. Goals from Haïdara, Souhalio Bamba, Vaboué Doumbia, and Yannis Touali sealed the victory after Burkina Faso's Mikael Coulibaly and Comi Ouattara saw their efforts saved. The result ensures a podium finish for Cote d'Ivoire, who will take heart from their resilience after trailing for most of the match. For Burkina Faso, the defeat was a bitter end to a promising campaign that saw them reach the semi-finals with flair and confidence. Both teams will look back at Morocco 2025 as a valuable learning curve, but it is Cote d'Ivoire who walk away with the bronze medal and a statement of future potential.
CAF
16-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Morocco edge Côte d'Ivoire in tense penalty shoot-out
In a thrilling encounter marked by tactical discipline and missed chances, Morocco edged Côte d'Ivoire 4-3 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes of regulation time. Both sides crafted several promising opportunities yet were ultimately let down by poor finishing, leaving the deadlock intact until the decider. A Match of Opportunities and Tactics From the first whistle, Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire engaged in a strategic battle, each side displaying solid defensive organization and counter-attacking intent. Despite the intensity on the pitch, neither side managed to find the back of the net. The opening exchanges saw a number of dangerous moves as both teams pushed forward, but clinical precision in front of goal was noticeably lacking. Morocco, buoyed by the energy of the home crowd, continued to press, while Côte d'Ivoire remained resilient, thwarting wave after wave of Moroccan attacks. The stalemate, however, persisted, setting the stage for an intense and nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out. Decisive Penalty Shoot-Out With regulation time having expired at 0-0, the match was forced into a penalty shoot-out. In a dramatic sequence of nerves and precision, Morocco held their nerve and emerged victorious with a 4-3 win on penalties. The tension was palpable as each kick contributed to the unfolding drama, with both goalkeepers playing crucial roles in keeping their teams in the contest. What's Next With this hard-fought victory, hosts Morocco advance to face Mali in the final, following Mali's commanding 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in an earlier match. The final, scheduled for Saturday, 19 April, promises to be an exciting showdown as Morocco looks to add another accolade to their rich tournament heritage. For Côte d'Ivoire, the journey is not yet over. The Young Elephants will now play against fellow West African nation Burkina Faso in a playoff match, fighting for a podium finish and a chance to end the campaign on a high note.
