WAFCON 2026: Côte d’Ivoire mark return with emphatic Burkina Faso victory

Burkina Faso briefly threatened a response early in the second half through Adama Congo, who finished after being set up by Balkissa Sawadogo, but Côte d’Ivoire restored their three-goal cushion through Ouedraogo to seal an impressive opening win.

Konan struck again in the 23rd minute, this time from an Ouedraogo assist, as Côte d’Ivoire raced into a 3-0 half-time lead.

For Burkina Faso, the defeat is painful, but their early second-half goal showed some fight in a match that had threatened to run away from them before half-time.