AFCON: Senegal, B/Faso battle for final ticket

Arguably, all eyes will be on Burkina Faso goalkeeper, Herve Koffi, as he attempts to take the Stallions to the final of the ongoing 33rd Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Koffi has been a delight to watch since the 2021 AFCON kicked off as he had many saves under his belt to propel his country to this stage.

The Charleroi of Belgium keeper, Koffi, indeed has a lot of work to do at the Ahidjo Stadium today from 8:00pm as he faces Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Watford striker, Ismaila Sarr, who scored as a substitute against Equatorial Guinea.

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The Teranga Lions got to the final of the last AFCON two years ago in Egypt before losing 0-1 to the Foxes of Algeria, who this time failed to scale through the group stage.

The Stallions last played in the final of AFCON in 2013 when they lost 0-1 to the Super Eagles in South Africa.

Aliou Cissé’s players are considered the objective favourites for this West African confrontation, and for the final too perhaps, and not just because they are the reigning African runners-up.

Senegal has one of the best squads on the continent, and more particularly an attacking unit where Sadio Mané, Famara Diédhiou, Keita Baldé and Ismaïla Sarr all play together.

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“Sarr is a percussive player, who runs fast, but as he is coming back from injury, I don’t think he has 90 minutes in his legs. He may not be a starter”, says Burkina Faso international Alain Traore (65th caps).

“Cissé studies his opponent’s game closely and he sees that the Stallions put in a lot of intensity, which may not correspond to Sarr’s state of fitness. But from the moment he is on the pitch, he will be a threat to Burkina Faso’s defence, especially if they shows signs of fatigue”.