By Akinwale Kasali
The Teranga Lions of Senegal have booked a place in the final of the 2021 African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon after a 3-1 triumph over the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the first Semi Final.
Goals from Abdul Diallo, Idrissa Gueye and Sadio Mane were all the Senegalese needed to stamp their authority as the number one Nation in the Continent according to the recent ranking released by World Soccer Governing Body, Federation International of Football Association, FIFA, in January.
The goal scored by Ibrahim Blati Toure was just a consolatory goal as the Burkinabes failed to repeat their AFCON 2013 exploits that saw them get to the finals, losing to eventual winners, the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Senegal repeated their AFCON 2019 feat of getting to the final where it lost to the Desert Warriors of Algeria at the Military Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, but will be battle ready not to lose in the final.
The AFCON trophy has eluded the Senegalese and this is an opportunity of righting their wrongs when the face the winner in the other semi final match between tournament host, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Pharaohs of Egypt.
This will be the third time the Teranga Lions of Senegal will be getting to the final of an AFCON tournament.
First, it was at the 2002 AFCON tournament hosted in Mali where the Senegalese lost to the indomitable Lions of Cameroon after a goalless 120 minutes through a penalty shootout, and again in 2019.
Coach Aliou Cisse of Senegal had earlier said that his team was gunning for glory when the tournament began. Will their progress into the final and their readiness to win the coveted trophy put their names in the history books of Senegal football.
Will the Sadio Mane inspired Teranga Lions of Senegal be lucky on their third attempt? Perhaps.
