(Football news) Senegal made it two consecutive AFCON finals in a row as they beat Burkina Faso 3-1. Senegal made it tough for them as they scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to book their place in the final where they face either Cameroon or Egypt, who face each other today. Senegal are the highest ranked African team in the tournament as the big players stepped up big time to prove to the world why this Senegal squad is so highly rated.

Abdou Diallo slotted the ball in  from close range after a corner in the 70th minute for the first goal as a strike from Idrissa Gueye doubled Senegal's lead six minutes later. Blati Toure pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 82nd minute but Sadio Mane added the final nail in the coffin with a breakaway goal five minutes later to restore Senegal's two-goal advantage as their sheer quality and experience triumphed over a gallant Burkinabe outfit. Diallo pounced on the opportunity to score from close range after Kalidou Koulibaly played the ball back into the penalty box from a corner with a bicycle kick. Gueye made it 2-0 as Mane’s cut back led to Gueye, applying the decisive touch to double their advantage.

Burkina Faso brought on two strikers to get back into the contest and with eight minutes left, the move paid off as they pulled one goal back after Bertrand Traore and Issa Kabore set up an attack which was finished off by the knee of Toure. In a prospect to find a dramatic equaliser, Toure and Edmond Tapsoba lost the ball in a midfield mix-up and Mane was quick to pounce on the mistake as he 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.Liverpool forward Mane has now equalled Senegal's goalscoring record, matching Henri Camara's tally of 29. In the match there were two penalties given to Senegal in the first half but both were overturned after the referee Bamlak Tessema of Ethiopia was encouraged to review his decision by VAR.

“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."

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“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."