Defending champions Ivory Coast and West African neighbors Burkina Faso bring the Round of 16 to a close this Tuesday in Marrakesh.
The Elephants are looking to shatter the defending champions’ curse—which hasn’t seen a title holder progress past this stage since 2010—while the Stallions of Burkina Faso aim to prove their consistency as one of the continent’s most resilient tournament teams.
Ivory Coast topped Group F in dramatic fashion, coming from two goals down to beat Gabon 3-2 in their final group game to finish unbeaten. Burkina Faso secured their passage as runners-up in Group E, tallying six points with a solid defensive record that was only breached by a narrow loss to Algeria.
Match details: Time and Venue
The final Round of 16 fixture moves to the “Red City,” where the high-stakes atmosphere is expected to reach a fever pitch under the lights of the Stade de Marrakech.
- Date: Tuesday, 6 January 2026
- Kick-off: 19:00 GMT (20:00 local time)
- Venue: Stade de Marrakech, Marrakesh
AFCON 2025: Schedule, results and standings of the Africa Cup of Nations
How to watch globally
As the knockout phase reaches its climax, fans can follow this high-profile derby through the following major providers:
- UK: Channel 4 (Free-to-air) on 4Seven, E4, and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
- USA & Canada: beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español. Streaming via Fubo, Sling TV, and Fanatiz.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (English/Portuguese) and Canal+ Afrique (French).
- Ivory Coast: RTI (Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne).
- South Africa: SABC 1 and the SABC+ app.
- Australia & NZ: beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Team news
Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Faé has fostered a sense of resurrection within the squad, reminiscent of their 2023 title run. Winger Amad Diallo has been the standout performer, scoring twice in the group stages, while the return of Wilfried Zaha has added a fresh dimension to the attack. The Elephants are expected to be at full strength, with Seko Fofana and Franck Kessié anchoring a formidable midfield.
AFCON 2025. Baleba and four other players making their debut
Burkina Faso, led by Brama Traoré, will rely on their twin towers in defense: captain Edmond Tapsoba and Nasser Djiga. Tapsoba was notably named in the AFCON 2025 Group Stage Best XI for his leadership and anticipation. In attack, the Stallions have a wealth of Premier League experience with Bertrand Traoré and Dango Ouattara, while Lassina Traoré is expected to lead the line after a strong showing against Sudan.
West African Derby
History suggests a tight encounter, though the Elephants hold the upper hand. In 20 previous meetings across all competitions, Ivory Coast has won nine times, while Burkina Faso has claimed three victories, with eight matches ending in draws. Their last major meeting in this competition was during the 2012 group stages, where Ivory Coast triumphed 2-0.
Emerse Faé is wary of the Stallions’ ability to cause an upset:
“Burkina Faso is a team that never gives up. They have players who have played together for a long time. We must be more disciplined than we were against Gabon if we want to keep our crown.”
Brama Traoré remained ambitious ahead of the clash:
“We respect Ivory Coast as the champions, but we are not here to be spectators. We have the defensive stability to frustrate them and the speed to hurt them on the break. This is a final for us.”
Round of 16: Tuesday Fixtures
AFCON 2025. Algeria – DR Congo, where to watch the match, preview
| Match | Venue | Time (GMT) |
| Algeria vs DR Congo | Rabat (Moulay Hassan) | 16:00 |
| Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso | Marrakesh | 19:00 |
