Defending champions Ivory Coast kicked off their 2025 WAFU Zone B U20 Championship campaign with a commanding 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in the first Group B fixture played at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
The Ivorians showed their class and composure throughout the game, taking the lead just before half-time through Yaya Tapé, who found the back of the net with a clinical finish to cap off a well-worked attacking move. The goal gave Côte d’Ivoire a deserved lead heading into the break.
Ivory Coast continued to control the tempo in the second half and were rewarded once again in the 75th minute when Namory Keita doubled their advantage with a calm strike, putting the defending champions firmly in the driver’s seat.
Burkina Faso responded quickly and managed to pull one back five minutes later through Salif Simporé, who capitalised on a defensive lapse to give his side hope. However, their fightback fell short, and the match ended 2-1 in favour of the Ivorians.
The win places Ivory Coast at the top of Group B after the first round of matches. Niger also picked up three points with a narrow 1-0 win over Togo in the second group fixture, making the battle for semifinal qualification all the more intense.
With both Ivory Coast and Niger off to winning starts, Group B is already shaping up to be a tightly contested affair. The second round of matches promises even more excitement as teams look to take a step closer to the knockout stage and qualification for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
