YAOUNDE, Cameroon
The Teranga Lions of Senegal produced a brilliant second half performance to beat Burkina Faso 3-1 to qualify into Sunday's TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 final.
Defender Abdou Diallo started the party for the
2019 losing finalists when he calmly slotted in from close range on 71 minutes.
The PSG defender kept his cool inside the Burkinabe
box after Koulibaly's volley fell on his path before guiding his shot past substitute
keeper Soufiane Ouedraogo.
The West African derby lived up to it's billing at
the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé with Senegal having two penalty claims
turned down following VAR reviews.
With an eventful first half which saw the two teams
cancelled each other in the middle of the park. Saliou Ciss came close for the
Lions of Teranga with low fierce drive past Koffi's far post on 14 minutes.
Edouard Mendy pulled a smart low save on towards
his right to deny Burkinabe forward Hassane Bande seven minutes before the
break.
The Stallions were forced to change their
goalkeeper Kouakou Koffi following a collision with Senegal's Cheikhou Kouyate.
The second half saw both sides going for the
breakthrough and it was the Teranga Lions who scored first through Abdou
Diallo.
The young defender found the back of the net from
close range before Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Dieng doubled their lead from Sadio
Mané's clever cut back.
With time running out the Stallions pulled a goal
back eight minutes from time when midfielder Ibrahim Blati Toure latched on to
Issa Kabore's cross.
Kabore was picked out by captain and talisman
Bertrand Traore on the right and the forward placed an inviting delivery
towards advancing Toure to slot past Mendy.
The two-time losing finalists completed their task
on 83 minutes through star man Sadio Mané. The Liverpool forward showcased his
class with he stylishly dinked his effort past Soufiane Ouedraogo to send
Senegal to their third TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations final.
Senegal will face the winner in the second semi-final between Egypt and hosts Cameroon in Sunday's final at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé.
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