Liverpool forward Sadio Mane was the star of the show on Wednesday night, scoring once and assisting another as Senegal saw off Burkina Faso 3-1 with a late show to book their second consecutive spot in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Defensive partners Kalidou Koulibaly and Abou Diallo partnered for the opening goal in the 70th minute before Mane set up Idrissa Gana Gueye for the second six minutes later.
Blati Toure gave Les Stallions hope of a comeback after halving the deficit in the 80th minute, but Mane scored the winner for Senegal with three minutes to play after being picked out by substitute Ismaila Sarr.
The Senegalese have now qualified for the final three times and will look to clinch the Cup of Nations title for the first time.
They will either face Cameroon or Egypt who clash in the second semi-final on Thursday night.
The first half of the tie was closely contested with Senegal having an early chance when Saliou Ciss made a daunting run on the left before taking a shot on his weaker right foot, but it went inches wide.
The two sides had to back chances countering each other. First, Bertrand Traore made a run through the middle before putting Hassane Bande through, but the latter’s shot couldn’t gather enough pace with Edouard Mendy making a routine save.
Sadio Mane in action against Burkina Faso
When the ball was restarted quick on the other end, Mane made a darting run on the left before cutting in to the edge of the box, but his shot flew straight at keeper Herve Koffi.
In the 26th minute, Ciss curled in a well weighted cross from the left picking out Bamba Dieng, but the striker’s header went just wide.
Burkina Faso were dealt a blow nine minutes to the break when keeper Koffi had to come out following a collision with Senegal’s Cheikou Kouyate. The two had gone for an aerial ball and clashed md-air with an awkward fall.
The Burkinabe keeper came out worse and had to be stretchered off. Referee Bamlak Tessema had to visit the pitch side monitor to see whether the challenge amounted to a penalty, but instead gave a drop ball.
Tessema once again referred to the monitor in extra time when he had initially given a penalty after adjudging Edmond Tapsoba to have handles inside the box, but overturned his decision when he saw the replay.
In the second half, Senegal started with pace and vigour and they had to wait until the 70th minute to break the deadlock. Off a corner, defender Koulibaly attempted an overhead kick at goal but the ball was controlled by Diallo who then struck home inside the box.
Abou Diallo celebrates his goal for Senegal
Six minutes later they were 2-0 ahead when Mane pickpocketed a Burkinabe defender the ball on the left before squaring back to the edge of the six yard box, where a sliding Gana Gueye put it into the net. Gueye had initially won the ball to send Mane sprinting.
The game was not about to cool down. Four minutes later, Burkina Faso halved the deficit to give themselves hope of a comeback when Blati Toure scored with a volley off his knee inside the box off an Issa Kabore cross.
Burkina Faso upped the tempo as they sought the equalizer, but they were stabbed off in the 87th minute when Mane scored the third with a beautiful finish. Off a counter, substitute Sarr put the Liverpool man through on goal, Mane rushing to dink the ball over the keeper.
The third goal deflated Burkina Faso as a possibility of getting two goals in less than five minutes proved a tough ask.
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