AFCON 2021 Semis: Match facts on Burkina Faso-Senegal clash
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations first semi final match takes centre stage tonight with Burkina Faso and Senegal locking horns in Yaoundé.
This will be the third Africa Cup of Nations encounter between Burkina Faso and Senegal and the first in the knock-out rounds, with Senegal unbeaten in the previous two matches in the group stages winning one and drawing the other.
Burkina Faso will play in their fourth semi-final match at the Africa Cup of Nations, having been eliminated in two of their previous three – last progressing to the final in 2013 (3-2 on penalties against Ghana).
Senegal have won five of their last six knock-out matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, keeping four clean sheets and conceding just twice – with their only defeat the 2019 final, against Algeria (1-0).
Senegal could reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations for the third time – no team have played in more finals (2) without ever winning, while the Lions of Teranga could become the first side to play in consecutive finals since Egypt in 2010.
Senegal’s Sadio Mané has scored seven goals from 27 shots at the Africa Cup of Nations since the start of 2017, with a shot conversion rate of 26% – only Nigeria’s Odian Ighalo (5/12 – 42%) has a better ratio among players to score four or more in that time.
