GOAL picks out some eye-catching and unimpressive showings from the last-four clashes in Cameroon
GettyAfcon 2021 semi-finals
Senegal and Egypt defeated Burkina Faso and Cameroon, respectively, to set up what is a highly anticipated final between the West Africans and seven-time winners.
Which performances in the last four were impressive and whose displays were a disappointment?
AdvertisementBackpagepixToo Good: Gabaski
Since replacing Mohamed El-Shenawy in the 88th minute of the Round of 16 success over the Ivory Coast, Egypt’s replacement goalkeeper has now saved three penalties in those two games.
He stopped one in the victory over the Elephants and repeated the trick against the hosts on Thursday night and then some.
Gabaski thwarted Harold Moukoudi and James Lea Siliki to put the Pharaohs into a healthy advantage in the shootout, thus becoming the hero for the North African side.
If El-Shenawy is unable to feature on Sunday, Carlos Queiroz will trust in Gabaski who is yet to concede from open play since deputising for Egypt’s number one.
BackpagepixToo Bad: Vincent Aboubakar
For a second game running, the Indomitable Lions forward fired blanks, failing to convert one of the host nation’s best chances.
While Aboubakar did not quite miss as many opportunities against the Pharaohs as the quarter-finals, the striker’s off-kilter finishing proved costly this time.
Having flourished hitherto, the competition’s top scorer petered out when he needed to come up trumps.
Getty Images.Too Good: Saliou Ciss
Ciss was a constant menace bombing forward for the entirety of Senegal’s 3-1 success over a plucky Burkina Faso outfit, fashioning more opportunities than all but Sadio Mane.
The left-back was equally dominant in his one-v-one tussles against the Stallions, winning every aerial duel on the night.
The 32-year-old has featured in every game so far at the finals and Aliou Cisse will count on the full-back for the decider.