Cheikhou Kouyaté’s instant impact helps Senegal see off Equatorial Guinea

Senegal saw off the threat of giant-killers Equatorial Guinea in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Sunday and will now face Burkina Faso.

Famara Diedhiou opened the scoring for Senegal, who then conceded a surprise equaliser to Jannick Buyla, only for substitutes Cheikhou Kouyaté and Ismaila Sarr to come on and restore Senegal’s lead and put the result beyond doubt.

Equatorial Guinea caused one of the tournament’s biggest upsets when they beat the holders, Algeria, 1-0 in the group stage.

Senegal, one of the pre-tournament favourites, now have a semi-final with their fellow west Africans, Burkina Faso, on Wednesday.

Earlier on Sunday in the first of two matches at the Ahmadou Ahidjou Stadium, Egypt edged Morocco 2-1 after extra time and will play host nation Cameroon in the other semi-final on Thursday.