Afcon 2021: Senegal XI to face Burkina Faso - Mane & Koulibaly start, Sarr benched

Mendy -who conceded the first Afcon goal for Senegal in their game against Equatorial Guinea- starts again as the Teranga Lions look for a possible back-to-back appearance in the final of Africa's premier football competition.

The Nancy full-back - who received a yellow card in the ninth minute of their quarter-final clash and assisted in the creation of the third goal - has been named as part of Senegal's defensive unit.

The 30-year-old defender will be expected to marshall Senegal's backline and try to keep the Burkina Faso attackers at bay.

The 25-year-old PSG star will partner Koulibaly at the back as the Teranga Lions hope to keep their unbeaten run going against Burkina Faso.

The Bayern Munich full-back, Senegal's designated free-kick taker, starts as the 2019 finalists - who have won five of their last six knock-out matches at Afcon - face the Stallions.

After playing throughout the Equatorial Guinea game, the defensive midfield stalwart has retained his starting slot.

In a rather defensive approach, Mendy has been deployed alongside Gueye as the Teranga Lions take on their West African rivals in Yaounde.

Kouyate has started ahead of Pape Gueye, whom he replaced in the 65th minute before he scored the second goal two minutes later to restore Senegal's lead against Equatorial Guinea.

The Liverpool star - who has scored seven goals from 27 shots at Afcon since the start of 2017 with a shot conversion rate of 26% - has been given another chance to try and add goals to his tally in the competition.

Diedhiou got himself on the scoresheet in the last game when he gave his side a 28th-minute lead and has been given another start ahead of Bamba Dieng, who replaced him in the 65th minute of the quarter-final duel.

The Marseille forward starts ahead of Ismaila Sarr, who scored the third goal against Equatorial Guinea and is benched for the semi-final game.