Potential opponent for Ivory Coast: Burkina Faso

With each team playing two games each, the 2013 African Cup of Nations could not be any tighter. Yet, the Ivory Coast became the first team to qualify, while Algeria became the first team eliminated from the tournament. With the Ivory Coast looking on track to win its first African Cup of Nations since 1992, we look at the records of the potential quarterfinals opponents for the Ivory Coast to see if the country can return to the final yet again.

While its next game is against Algeria, the Ivory Coast would not play a meaningful match until February 3 in the quarterfinals at Rustenburg:

Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso

Despite being in the drivers seat in Group C, Burkina Faso can still finish second in the group. Burkina Faso would play the Ivory Coast if:

• Burkina Faso ties its final match against Zambia AND Nigeria defeats Ethiopia AND Nigeria overtakes Burkina Faso on either goal difference or goals scored.
• Burkina Faso loses its match AND Nigeria either ties or loses against Ethiopia.

If either scenario happens, these teams will meet for the eighth time, with Burkina Faso never haven beaten the Ivory Coast. In addition to a 1982 friendly at Cotonou, Benin (which the teams played to a 1-1 draw), these two teams have met at qualifying for three major events:

Please note that Burkina Faso played as the Upper Volta until 1984.

1978 FIFA World Cup (first round playoff)

• September 4, 1976: Burkina Faso 1, Ivory Coast 1
• Game played at Ouagadougou
• September 26, 1976: Ivory Coast 2, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played at Abidjan

1978 African Cup of Nations (first round playoff)

• September 18, 1977: Burkina Faso 0, Ivory Coast 1
• Game played at Ouagadougou
• October 2, 1977: Ivory Coast 4, Burkina Faso 1
• Game played in Abijdan
• Although its results still count, for reasons unknown, the Ivory coast was disqualified from the African Cup of Nations. Interestingly enough, Burkina Faso qualified despite never having won a game: its next opponent, Mali, withdrew from qualifying.

2010 FIFA World Cup (third round group stage)

• June 20, 2009: Burkina Faso 2, Ivory Coast 3
• Game played at Stade du 4-A-oût in Ouagadougou
• September 5, 2009: Ivory Coast 5, Burkina Faso 0
• Game played at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abijdan