U-17 AFCON: Kouassi the hero as Ivory Coast seal third place

Ivory Coast defeated Burkina Faso 4-1 on penalties to take the bronze medal in the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations third place playoff match at the Stade Larbi Zaouli. The Young Elephants scored six minutes before time to take the tie to penalties after the game ended 1-1 in regulation time.

The Ivorians were the dominant side in the opening twenty minutes. Nonetheless, they lacked sharpness up front. Loukman Tapsoba almost gave Burkina the lead in the 17th minute but he was denied twice by Ivorian keeper Christ Kouassi.

It didn’t take long for Burkina Faso to break the deadlock as they dominated the tie with fast breaks. In the 28th minute, Halidou Diakite gave Burkina the lead with a well-placed strike inside the area after Kouassi failed to properly clear a corner kick.

In the second half, the Ivorians changed their attacking strategy and were rewarded with a much better performance. Souhalio Bamba was the most dangerous Ivorian as he tested the Burkinabe defense multiple times.

Second-half substitute Alynho Haidara scored the equalizer on a rebound in the 84th minute. The goal made Haidara a joint top scorer alongside Burkina Faso star Tapsoba with seven goals. Burkina Faso custodian Prince Ouedraogo was shown a red card for handling the ball outside the area but the Young Stallions stood firm to take the match to a penalty shootout.

Ivorian keeper Kouassi was the hero as he saved two penalties to lead his country to a third-place finish in the U17 AFCON. The Ivorians clinched a third-place finish at the U-17 AFCON for the second time in their history. They achieved the same feat in 2005 when Gambia hosted the tournament.