Paulo Duarte: Burkina Faso were denied legitimate penalty against Egypt

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Feb 02, 2017. 13:00

Burkina Faso head coach Paulo Duarte was disappointed with the match referee's officiating in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final game on Wednesday.

The Stallions were beaten 4-3 on penalties by the Pharaohs of Egypt following a 1-1 draw in Gabon's capital
city Libreville.

Senegalese match referee Malang Diedhiou was in charge of the highly anticipated semi-final encounter that ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation time and extra-time.

“The referee today is the reason why we lost," Duarte told SuperSport.com.

"He refused to award us a penalty when it was very clear that the ball was handled in the box."

The Pharaohs are scheduled to lock horns with the winner between Cameroon's Indomitable Lions and the Black Stars of Ghana in Sunday's final.

While the Stallions will face the losing team between Cameroon and Ghana in the third-place play-off on Saturday.