The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday in Johannesburg said Burkina Faso's Jonathan Pitroipa had been cleared to play against Nigeria on Sunday.

According to a statement on the confederation's website, the Burkinabe forward will play in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final match after his ban was rescinded by CAF.

Pitroipa had received a second yellow card in the final minutes of extra time against Ghana in their semi-final match on Wednesday, leading to an expulsion from the game.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that his side however went on to win the game 3-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.

The match Tunisian centre referee Slim Jdidi had shown the Rennes player the yellow card for what he deemed to be a caution for simulation.

But television replays showed that the Burkina Faso player was the one at the receiving end of the infringement.

Ghanaian defender John Boye had tripped the Burkinabe inside his own area.

But CAF had reviewed the matter following an appeal by the football federation of Burkina Faso, and after Jdidi admitted that he mistakenly issued the winger the card.

After a meeting on Friday, the continental body confirmed that the resultant ban for Pitroipa from the next game would be overturned.

Already, Jdidi has been suspended for his performance in the semi-final.

The referee had infuriated the Burkinabes not only for sending off Pitroipa after he had seemingly won a penalty but for also awarding Ghana a debatable spot-kick earlier.

He had also disallowed what looked to be a legitimate goal for the Burkina Faso side.

NAN