Senegal booked their place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final after beating Burkina Faso 3-1 in a semi-final match which was played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Cameroon on Wednesday.
The Lions of Teranga will now face either Cameroon or Egypt in the final on Sunday, while the Stallions will take part in the third-place play-off match.
The first real scoring opportunity fell to Burkina Faso in the 14th minute when Bertrand Traore met a right-wing cross from Boureima Bande, but his 12-yard shot shaved the wrong side of the crossbar.
Senegal came close to opening the scoring nine minutes later when a low left-wing cross from Saliou Ciss was met by Sadio Mane , but he toe-poked the ball inches wide from eight-yards out.
Burkina Faso were forced to make a change on the 36th minute as goalkeeper Farid Ouedraogo replaced Herve Koffi who was taken off on a stretcher.
Senegal continued to dominate as the half went on with Ciss and Mane slipping in with no ease, but they were unable to find a second goal while at the other end, Eduardo Mendy only had the one save to worry about in the first half.
Six minutes into the second half, Nampalys Mendy came close to scoring when he let fly with a 20-yard thunderbolt, but his effort was superbly tipped over the target by the Stallions keeper.
The next significant effort on goal came in the 65th minute when Boureima Bande fired a rather timid shot goalwards from 30-yards, which Eduardo Mendy easily collected.
Senegal continued to ask questions and they got they opened the scoring on the 70th minute courtesy of Abdou Diallo after the Burkinabe defenders failed to clear their lines from a corner.
Aliou Cisse’s men were fired up after that and they got a two-goal cushion when Idrissa Gueye swept Sadio Mane delivery from the right after pinching possession off a defender.
Burkina Fso pulled one back in the 82nd minute Blati Traore kneed in a cross from the right to beat Eduardo Mendy between Senegal posts.
Senegal added the third in the 87th minute courtesy of Sadio Mane after he strode away on the break before calmly chipping the ball over the goalkeeper to ensure his country head to the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Here’s how they lined up:
Burkina Faso: Herve Koffi (Farid Ouedraogo 36), Issa Kabore, Edmond Tapsoba, Issoufou Dayo, Steeve Yago, Gustavo Sangare, Blati Toure, Adama Guira (Djibril Ouattara 81), Boureima Bande (Abdoul Fessal Tapsoba 81), Bertrand Traore, Cyrille Bayala (Zakaria Sanogo 60)
Senegal: Edouard Mendy, Bouna Sarr, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, Saliou Ciss, Cheikhou Kouyate (Pape Gueye 64), Nampalys Mendy, Bamba Dieng (Pape Sarr 77), Idrissa Gueye, Sadio Mane, Famara Diedhiou (Ismaila Sarr 65)
