Amad spearheads charge as Ivory Coast breeze past Burkina Faso to set up a quarterfinal clash against Egypt.
Amad Diallo powers Côte d’Ivoire past Burkina Faso to set up Afcon clash with Egypt.
As the reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire easily defeated Burkina Faso 3-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match in Marrakech on Tuesday, Amad Diallo continued his outstanding play in Morocco by scoring one goal and setting up another.
In a heavyweight quarterfinal in Agadir on Saturday, Côte d’Ivoire will take on Egypt, the seven-time champions, in a rematch of the 2006 final in which the north African team won on penalties following a scoreless draw.
Emerse Faé’s team dominated the match against an outgunned Burkina Faso, and Yan Diomande and Bazoumana Touré were also on target. If Hervé Koffi hadn’t played some outstanding goalkeeping, they might have won by a wider margin.
Amad, one of the tournament’s star players with three goals and an assist that propelled the Ivorians’ outstanding title defence, will return to a new boss at Manchester United following the finals.
Diallo’s outstanding solo effort in the 20th minute gave them the lead. He glided past three defenders before a lucky deflection let him lift the ball over the custodian and into the roof of the net. It was 2-0 at 32 minutes, and this time Amad was the creator. His cunning on the right wing resulted in a low cross that was deftly left by Franck Kessié. Diomande then side-footed into the net from 18 yards out.
When Dango Ouattara’s shot from a tight angle struck the post, the Burkinabé were just inches away from regaining the lead, but it was a rare moment of brightness. As full time approached, Touré broke free on the left side of the box as the Ivorians continued to advance. Koffi may have anticipated a cross, but the young winger instead scored his second goal of the season by sliding in at the near post.