Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso launch their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaigns on Monday when the West African rivals meet in a crucial Group B encounter at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
While Côte d’Ivoire are returning to the continental finals for the first time in 12 years, Burkina Faso are back after missing the previous edition and remain in search of their maiden victory at the tournament.
Match facts
- This will be the first-ever WAFCON meeting between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
- Côte d’Ivoire have previously faced West African opposition twice at the finals, losing to Nigeria 3-1 in 2012 and 4-2 in 2014.
- The Ivorians will play their ninth WAFCON match, facing a seventh different opponent at the tournament.
- Burkina Faso’s only previous meeting against a fellow WAFU nation ended in a 1-0 defeat to Senegal in 2022.
- Côte d’Ivoire become the fourth different nation Burkina Faso have faced at the WAFCON finals after Morocco, Senegal and Uganda.
Côte d’Ivoire: Key statistics
- WAFCON appearances: 2 (2012, 2014).
- Best finish: Third place (2014).
- Returning to the finals after a 12-year absence.
- Eliminated in the group stage on debut in 2012 before finishing third in 2014.
- Have won one and lost one opening match:
- 5-0 vs Ethiopia (2012)
- 2-4 vs Nigeria (2014)
- Their two opening matches have produced 11 goals, averaging 5.5 goals per game.
- Côte d’Ivoire scored seven goals across those two opening fixtures.
- Their 5-0 victory over Ethiopia remains their biggest WAFCON win.
- Ines Nrehy remains the country’s all-time leading WAFCON scorer with seven goals, including the only hattrick by an Ivorian player at the tournament.
- Won their most recent WAFCON match, beating South Africa 1-0 in the 2014 third place playoff.
- Victory over Burkina Faso would give them back-to-back WAFCON wins for the first time.
- Seven of their eight WAFCON matches have produced a winner:
- 3 wins
- 5 defeats
- Their only draw was 1-1 against Zambia in 2014.
- They have scored in every WAFCON match they have played.
- Kept just two clean sheets:
- 5-0 vs Ethiopia (2012)
- 1-0 vs South Africa (2014)
Coach watch
French coach Reynald Pedros replaced long-serving manager Clémentine Touré in January 2025.
Pedros guided Morocco to a historic runners-up finish at the 2022 WAFCON and also led the Atlas Lionesses to a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in their opening match of that tournament.
Burkina Faso: Key statistics
- WAFCON appearances: 1 (2022).
- Best finish: Group stage.
- Return after missing the previous edition.
- Finished third in their group during their debut appearance in 2022.
- Lost both opening matches:
- 0-1 vs Morocco
- 0-1 vs Senegal
- Claimed their first-ever WAFCON point with a 2-2 draw against Uganda.
- Have never scored first or led in a WAFCON match.
- Adama Congo became Burkina Faso’s first-ever WAFCON goalscorer after netting against Uganda.
- Still searching for their first victory at the tournament.
- Yet to keep a clean sheet in WAFCON history.
- Have conceded four goals at the finals:
- Three in the first half
- One in the second half
Road to Morocco 2026
Burkina Faso secured qualification with an impressive campaign.
First qualifying round
- Defeated Burundi 5-1 on aggregate.
- Won 1-0 away before sealing qualification with a 4-1 home victory.
- Naomie Kabré scored a hat-trick in the second leg.
Second qualifying round
- Beat Togo 3-0 on aggregate.
- Won 2-0 in the first leg through goals from Rihanatou Sawadogo and Adèle Kabré.
- Completed the job with a 1-0 away victory, courtesy of Adama Congo.
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Head coach Pascal Sawadogo, who guided Burkina Faso during their maiden appearance in 2022, remains in charge as the Stallions Ladies look to make history by recording their first-ever WAFCON victory.
