YAOUNDE: Senegal struck three times in the last 20 minutes as they overcame Burkina Faso 3-1 on Wednesday to reach their second successive African Cup of Nations final.

Now, Africa’s top-ranked national team hope to finally win a title.

Abdou Diallo shot home from close range after a corner in the 70th minute for the first and a strike from Bamba Dieng doubled Senegal’s lead six minutes later in their last-four tie at Yaounde’s Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

Blati Toure pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 82nd minute but Sadio Mane added a final flourish with a breakaway goal five minutes later to restore Senegal’s two-goal advantage as their quality triumphed over a gallant Burkinabe outfit.

Senegal, who were runners-up at the last edition in 2019, will meet hosts Cameroon or Egypt in the final.

“We dedicate this win to our people,” said Senegal coach Aliou Cisse. “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.”

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 snapped up the opportunity to fire home from close range after centre-back partner Kalidou Koulibaly played the ball back into the danger zone from a corner with a bicycle kick.

Dieng made it 2-0 as TV replays showed he was first to a cut back from Mane, applying the decisive touch ahead of team-mate Idrissa Gana Gueye, who also claimed the goal.

Burkina Faso then brought on two strikers in a bold bid to get back into the contest and with eight minutes left pulled one back after Bertrand Traore and Issa Kabore set up an attack that was finished off by the knee of Toure.

The prospect of a frenetic search for a dramatic equaliser was on cards but Toure and Edmond Tapsoba lost the ball in a midfield mix-up and Mane was able to sprint away, slamming home a left-footed shot with just the goalkeeper to beat to finish it off in the 87th minute.

“We knew it would not be easy, it was a semi-final of the Cup of Nations after all, said Mane. “And we were up against a good Burkina Faso team who gave us a lot of problems. We were calm and we took our opportunities and I think we deserved this victory.”

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2022