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WAFCON: Cote D'ivoire 🇨🇮 vs Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 will the game go to penalties? prediction Kenya

Burkina Faso will begin their WAFCON campaign on July 27 with a clash against Côte d'Ivoire, and this West African derby has caught the attention of prediction traders across Kenya. But before you trade this market, there's something critical you need to understand about WAFCON tournament rules.

The Group Stage Rule You Must Know

Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso are both in Group B along with South Africa and Tanzania. This July 27 fixture is their opening group stage match, and here's the key detail: group stage matches at WAFCON do not have extra time or penalty shootouts. They can end in draws, just like the group stages of the World Cup or any major tournament.

Penalties only come into play during knockout matches (quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, and the final) when a winner must be decided. The top teams advance to the knockout stage, where matches become do-or-die and every goal matters. At that stage, if teams are level after 90 minutes, they play extra time. If still tied after 120 minutes, penalties decide the winner.

So for this specific Group B match on July 27, the game cannot go to penalties because it's not a knockout fixture. It will be decided in regulation time, or it will end in a draw. Simple as that.

West African Neighbors Collide

The two nations share a 545-kilometre border, with Côte d'Ivoire lying to the south of Burkina Faso. The border runs west from a tripoint with Mali to another tripoint with Ghana in the east, making this a true regional derby with plenty of pride at stake.

The men's teams have faced each other frequently. Overall, the two nations have met 20 times in all competitions. Côte d'Ivoire have recorded eight wins, Burkina Faso three, with nine matches ending in draws. But the women's teams? This will be their first competitive meeting at WAFCON.

Côte D'ivoire 🇨🇮: Back After 12 Years

Ranked among the four highest-placed teams that had narrowly missed qualification, Côte d'Ivoire earned a place at the finals, completing their return to the continental showpiece for the first time since 2014. Their greatest achievement came during that last participation, when the Elephants secured a third-place finish to record the best result in the country's history.

Côte d'Ivoire's journey to the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 took an unusual turn. The Elephants were knocked out in the final qualifying round after a fiercely contested tie against Senegal. Neither side managed to score across the two legs, with Senegal eventually prevailing 5-4 on penalties. They only qualified after CAF expanded the tournament from 12 to 16 teams.

Former Morocco head coach Reynald Pedros was appointed in January 2025 to lead Côte d'Ivoire into a new era. Ivory Coast, too, cannot be overlooked with Rosemonde Kouassi in their ranks, the Washington Spirit forward who brings NWSL experience to the squad.

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫: Building on 2022 Debut

Burkina Faso made their TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations debut at the 2022 edition in Morocco. Although they were eliminated in the group stage after narrow defeats to hosts Morocco and Senegal, they earned their first point in the competition with a 2-2 draw against Uganda. Morocco 2026 will mark the country's second appearance at the continental finals.

After missing the 2024 edition, Burkina Faso return with renewed confidence following an impressive qualification campaign. The Stallions Ladies will be aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.

A dynamic forward with pace and intelligent movement, Congo made history at the 2022 edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations by becoming the first Burkina Faso player to score at the tournament, finding the net in the team's 2-2 draw against Uganda. Her ability to stretch defenses and create scoring opportunities will be crucial to Burkina Faso's hopes in Morocco.

Burkina Faso head coach Pascal Sawadogo has unveiled a 28-player squad for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, with the Stallions Ladies set to compete in Morocco. The West Africans have been placed in Group B, where they will face Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, and defending champions South Africa.

What History Tells Us

While the women's teams haven't met before, we can look at tournament trends. At the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco, knockout matches did go to penalties. Ghana held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to defeat South Africa and claim the bronze medal at the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the Black Queens triumphed 4-3 in the shootout.

But that was a third-place playoff, a knockout match. Group stage matches are different. They're about collecting points. A draw gives each team one point, a win gives three. Teams manage the game differently knowing a point is still valuable.

The South Africa Factor

South Africa, recent champions in 2022, will be eager to reclaim their place at the summit of African women's football after being drawn in Group B with Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Tanzania. Banyana Banyana are the clear favorites in this group, which means both Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso will be fighting for that second qualification spot.

This adds massive importance to their head-to-head meeting. A win in your opening match sets the tone. A loss puts you under pressure. Both teams will be desperate for three points, which could lead to an open, attacking game or a cagey, tactical battle.

Our Prediction: Will It Go to Penalties?

Here's the straightforward answer: No, this match cannot go to penalties. It's a group stage fixture, and group stage matches at WAFCON are played under standard rules. 90 minutes, and if it's level, it's a draw. No extra time, no shootout.

The only way this fixture could be decided by penalties is if these two teams meet again later in the knockout stages (quarterfinals onwards). The top two from each group advance to the quarter-finals, then knockout stages (semis, final, and third-place match). If both teams finish in the top two of Group B and then face each other in a knockout round, penalties would be possible at that point.

But for the July 27 group stage meeting? The answer is clear: NO.

What to Expect on the Pitch

Despite the penalties question being settled by tournament rules, this will still be a fascinating match. Côte d'Ivoire have more big-tournament experience historically, but Burkina Faso showed promise in 2022 and have had more recent WAFCON exposure.

Having waited more than a decade to return to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d'Ivoire are determined not simply to participate but to establish themselves once again among the continent's leading teams. With momentum building and belief restored, the Elephants will hope Morocco 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter.

For Burkina Faso, this is about building on their 2022 foundation. They know one point won't be enough to advance from a group containing South Africa. They'll need wins, and this opening match against Côte d'Ivoire is their best chance.

Expect a tight, competitive match between two West African neighbors with everything to play for. But expect it to be decided in 90 minutes, one way or another.

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