The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations provides up-and-coming players with the perfect opportunity to strut their stuff, and here we look at who impressed on Day 14.
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"Offensive all-rounder" is how Jonathan Pitroipa describes himself on his official website. It's an odd combination of words that suggests something has been muddled in translation, and yet at the same time it sums the midfielder up remarkably well. (On a side note, with funky music and everything, Pitroipa's website is well worth a visit.)
After all, over the course of the Africa Cup of Nations, Pitroipa has shown he has just about every attribute that could be offensive to the opposition. Quick and athletic, and surprisingly strong for his medium build, the 26-year-old has not only played every minute of Burkina Faso's campaign - aside from the last 11 minutes against Togo - he's been at the heart of most of their creativity.
Last week we highlighted the impressive talent of Alain Traore, because at that stage he was the tournament's leading goalscorer. Yet Pitroipa has been just as influential for the Burkinabes.
It was he who set Traore up for the equaliser in the opener against Nigeria that breathed belief into Paul Put's side, and he also provided the assist for Djakaridja Kone's goal against Ethiopia.
Both of those plays were an excellent example of how dangerous Pitroipa is on the break, and of course he bagged a goal of his own in the 4-0 rout over Ethiopia before proving his heading skills with the winner against Togo on Sunday.
Pitroipa currently plays for Stade Rennais in Ligue 1, for whom he has 13 goals in 55 games.
"He is a very good player - when he has space it is difficult to stop him," Zambia coach Herve Renard said prior to his side's clash with the Burkinabes. "When he has space he is a bit like Gervinho.
"He's high class, but he was playing in the Bundesliga before so he's not a surprise for me."
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