Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations – Play Offs betting tips on match 2026-01-05 19:00.
[p]Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holders Ivory Coast’s reward for topping Group F is a last 16 meeting with Burkina Faso, who were beaten at this stage of the 2023 edition.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Ivory Coast may have progressed to the knockout stages unbeaten (W2, D1), but they were far from convincing and had to come from two goals down to beat Gabon 3-2 on matchday three. That was the least that was expected of the Elephants as they’ve now gone past the group stage in ten of the last 11 AFCON tournaments, and they’ve still managed it in far less dramatic circumstances than en route to victory in 2023. Ivory Coast have now lost just one of their last ten matches overall (W7, D2), yet with their last two AFCON last-16 ties going all the way to penalties, recent history suggests this one could go the distance.[/p]
[p]Burkina Faso may never have won AFCON, but they’ve become reliable in this competition as they’ve now made it to the knockout stages in five of their last six appearances at the finals. Defeat on matchday two to Algeria was the Stallions’ only loss in their last nine matches (W7, D1), and as they’ve since followed up that disappointment with a routine 2-0 victory over Sudan, a meeting with one of the continent’s heavyweights is unlikely to overawe them. Tragedy may be spurring Burkina Faso on too after the dreadful news that Stephane Aziz Ki’s young son passed away this week. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This will be the first meeting between these nations at an AFCON finals since 2012. Burkina Faso carry recent momentum, with two of their three prior H2H victories (D8, L9) coming across the last three meetings between the sides (L1).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Four of Ivory Coast’s five goals at this AFCON finals came after half-time.[/p]
[p]Ivory Coast have scored more than once in just four of their last 14 games.[/p]
[p]Just three of Burkina Faso’s last nine games saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]No side scored more goals beyond the 75th minute in the group stage than Burkina Faso (3).[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Three of Evann Guessand’s four goals since the start of the season have come before half-time, with the exception being his strike against Gabon on matchday three. Lassina Traoré was on target for Burkina Faso in their win over Sudan with his 13th international goal, the last six of which have now come in victories (W4).[/p]
[p]Ivory Coast don’t appear to have any fresh issues. Hervé Koffi and Cyriaque Irié both went off with injuries in Burkina Faso’s last group game.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Goals at both ends have been rare for both these sides, so backing under 2.5 goals here looks a smart option.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]