Senegal are through to a second consecutive Africa Cup of Nations final after breaking Burkina Faso hearts in their last four tie in Yaounde on Wednesday, Abdou Diallo, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Sadio Mane scoring second half goals to secure a 3-1 victory.
Africa’s top-ranked national team, Senegal will find out their opponents in Sunday’s final on Thursday, when hosts Cameroon take on Egypt in the second semi.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said they dedicate the win to their people.
“We are really satisfied this evening, our objective is to win the trophy because that is what the boys deserve given everything they have put into this,” said Cisse.
Cisse’s side had two penalties awarded in the first half only for the Ethiopian referee to change his mind both times following a VAR review.
However, they went ahead just after the midway point in the second period when Paris Saint Germain defender Diallo popped up in the box to produce a striker’s finish.
The second arrived on 76 minutes, Mane completed the win late on after Blati Toure had pulled a goal back.
Senegal’s two possible final opponents are the most successful sides in AFCON history with 12 titles between them, while the Lions of Teranga are still searching for their first continental crown, two and a half years after losing to Algeria in the final in Cairo.
“We knew it was not going to be at all easy to get to two straight AFCON finals, but the most important for us now is to go all the way and win it, whoever we come up against,” said Mane.
Senegal’s opponents here could not be underestimated.
Mane had the final say, though, bursting clear in the 87th minute to make it 3-1.
He will find out on Thursday if he will come up against his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah and Egypt in the final.