U-17 Women's World Cup Qualifiers: Ivorians secure third round qualification

The U-17 Women's Team of Côte d'Ivoire achieved a remarkable feat by turning the tables against Burundi in the second round of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers.

After losing 3-1 at home in the first leg, the young Elephants responded with a clinical 3-0 win in the return match on Wednesday, 12 March to secure passage into the third and final round of qualifiers.

A Perfect Start for the Ivorians
From the very first minutes of the match, Adélaïde Koudougnon’s players showed unwavering determination. Eager to make up for their deficit, they applied intense pressure on the hosts In the 9th minute, Alimatou Zea lit the first spark by expertly converting a direct free kick, giving her team a valuable lead.

Seven minutes later, Nahomie Bah followed suit by doubling the score with a well-placed shot that left the Burundian goalkeeper with no chance. With this two-goal advantage at halftime, Côte d'Ivoire was in a strong position, still needing just one more goal for direct qualification.

The Goal of Deliverance
Despite the intensity of the match and growing pressure from Burundi in the second half, the Ivorians remained composed. They continued to play with discipline and intelligence, looking for the opportunity to score that third goal, which would secure their qualification.

It was in the 69th minute that Rolande Adjoua sealed the fate of the match with an unstoppable strike. Following a beautiful combination starting from the right side, she received a perfectly weighted cross before sending the ball into the back of the net.

Côte d'Ivoire becomes the first nation to secure its ticket for the third round of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers.