With further trial, i can now download the attachment using copy(), here is a sample code:
<?php
$source = "https://kc.kobotoolbox.org/media/small?media_file=youssouf_traore%2Fattachments%2Faeacc024$
$target = "topo.jpg"; //File destination name
file_put_contents($target, ""); //We have to create the destination file prior to using copy().
//Options on the request:
$options = array(
"http" => array(
"method"=> "GET",
"header" => "Authorization: Basic " . base64_encode("youssouf_traore:my-secret-password")
)
);
$streamContext = stream_context_create($options);
copy($source, $target, $streamContext);
?>