Burundi vs. Ivory Coast – Preiview, Prediction, Head-to-Head, Team News & Possible Lineups.Â
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Africa | Group Stage
Match Date: March 21, 2025 | Kickoff: 8 PM GMT +1
Venue: Stade d’Honneur
Teams: Burundi National Football Team vs. Ivory Coast National Football Team
Match Preview
The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues as Burundi and Ivory Coast lock horns in a crucial Group F encounter at the Stade d’Honneur on Friday, March 21, 2025. With both teams eyeing qualification, this fixture promises to be a decisive one as they battle for valuable points.
Burundi enters the match eager to secure a historic World Cup berth, while Ivory Coast, boasting a strong record, looks to maintain their unbeaten streak in the qualifiers. The last time these teams met was in November 2024, when Ivory Coast secured a commanding 4-0 victory in a friendly match.
Burundi: Can They Bounce Back?
Burundi endured a challenging end to 2024, finishing the year with consecutive defeats in their 2025 African Nations Championship qualifiers against Uganda. A 1-0 loss at Hamz Stadium on Boxing Day was followed by another 1-0 defeat, courtesy of a late Hakim Kiwanuka strike.
Despite their struggles in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers—where they finished bottom of Group L—Patrick Sangwa’s men have shown promise in the World Cup qualifiers. Burundi has picked up seven points from four matches, with two wins and a draw, placing them third in Group F. Their only defeat came in a tight 2-1 loss to Gabon.
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With a seven-game winless run looming over them, Burundi needs a spirited performance to challenge an in-form Ivory Coast side.
Ivory Coast: The Unbeaten Giants
Ivory Coast, one of only nine unbeaten teams in the World Cup qualifiers, has displayed dominance throughout the campaign. The Elephants began their journey with a resounding 9-0 victory over Seychelles before sealing back-to-back wins against Gambia (2-0) and Gabon (1-0). Their only slip-up was a goalless draw against Kenya.
Emerse Fae’s squad will aim to continue their fine form after an unfortunate exit from the 2025 CHAN playoffs, where they suffered a penalty shootout defeat against Burkina Faso.
Head-to-Head Analysis
Burundi and Ivory Coast have faced off on three occasions, with Ivory Coast winning all encounters convincingly:
- March 2003: Ivory Coast 2-0 Burundi (Friendly)
- June 2024: Ivory Coast 3-1 Burundi (AFCON Qualifiers)
- November 2024: Ivory Coast 4-0 Burundi (Friendly)
The statistics highlight Ivory Coast’s dominance, with the Elephants scoring 9 goals and conceding just 1 in their past meetings.
Current Form
Burundi World Cup Qualifying – Africa: WLDW
Burundi Form (All Competitions): LLDLLL
Ivory Coast World Cup Qualifying – Africa: WWWD
Ivory Coast Form (All Competitions): LLWWWL
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Burundi Team News:
Burundi’s 25-man squad for this international window includes the return of Norwegian-based midfielder Patrick Bizoza and Beerschot’s Marco Weymans. The squad will rely on key players like Abedi Bigirimana and Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana to pose an attacking threat.
Burundi Predicted Starting XI:
Nkurunziza; Weymans, Ndayishimye, Nsabiyumva, Nduwarugira; Liongola, Msanga, Bigirimana, Bizoza; Niyongabire, Mvuka
Ivory Coast Team News:
The big news for Ivory Coast is the return of star striker Sebastian Haller after missing recent matches due to injury. Maxwel Cornet remains absent despite strong performances at club level, while Amad Diallo is sidelined due to injury. Coach Emerse Fae has also given a debut call-up to AJ Auxerre defender Clement Akpa.
Ivory Coast Predicted Starting XI:
Fofana; Doue, Diomande, Ndicka, Singo; Sangare, Kessie; Adingra, Aholou, Pepe; Haller
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Match Prediction
While Burundi has shown glimpses of potential in the qualifiers, facing an Ivory Coast team with superior depth, quality, and experience will be a daunting challenge. The Elephants’ attacking firepower and defensive solidity give them the edge. We predict a comfortable 3-0 victory for Ivory Coast.
