“We want to give a smile to our people. If we can do it, by our sporting contribution, we will not skimp on the efforts. And above all remain ourselves,” said Kamou Malo, Burkina Faso’s coach, in a press conference.
Two years after their defeat against Algeria, the Senegalese are back in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. The African vice-champion will play a final again in this CAN 2021, the third of its history in the competition. Everything was unblocked after the changes of Aliou Cissé, as against Equatorial Guinea. Stirring, Ismaïla Sarr first provoked a corner that led to the opening goal of Abdou Diallo. Then Sadio Mané passed the second. With an assist for the duo Dieng/Gueye, then putting the goal of the break in counter, while Blati Toure had reduced the gap in the meantime.
While the “country of men of integrity” is in the grip of a serious and deep political crisis that saw President Roch Kaboré overthrown by the military junta on January 24, the Stallions again gave their all, sometimes excessively, to thwart Senegal’s possession game and send Saliou Ciss’s runs flying. But to no avail. For the second time in a row, Sadio Mané’s Senegal will play in the final of the African Cup of Nations.
