Teenager Ibrahim Mbaye came off the bench to score four minutes after entering, securing a 3-1 victory for Senegal over Sudan in Tangiers on Saturday in the first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 match.
The 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward previously represented France at youth levels before switching his international allegiance to Senegal, the country of his father’s birth.
Former champions Senegal will face either Mali or Tunisia, who clash in Casablanca later on Saturday, in the quarter-finals.
Sudan stunned Senegal with an early sixth-minute goal by Aamir Abdallah, but Senegal responded through a Pape Gueye brace to lead 2-1 at half-time. Mbaye sealed the win after 77 minutes, putting the outcome beyond doubt.
The result was widely expected, with Senegal ranked 99 places above Sudan, a country struggling with civil war since April 2023.
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Senegal made six changes from the side that beat Botswana 3-0 in their final group match, with suspended captain and centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly notably absent. Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah, born in Ghana, retained only forward Abdallah from their 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso.
This was the first AFCON meeting between the two nations, though they were in the same 2026 World Cup qualifying group, with Senegal winning at home and drawing away.
Abdallah, a semi-professional playing in Australia’s second division, gave Sudan an early lead with a superb curling strike over former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Despite failing to score in three group matches, Sudan qualified for the knockout stage as one of the best four third-placed teams, aided by an own goal against Equatorial Guinea.
Senegal responded almost immediately after a brave save from Sudan’s Monged Abuzaid denied Nicolas Jackson, on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea. Sadio Mane then set up Pape Gueye, who equalised with a low strike into the corner.
Senegal dominated the rest of the first half while Sudan offered little in attack, in a match watched by CAF president Patrice Motsepe. A potential penalty for Senegal after Ismaila Sarr was fouled was overturned by VAR, and another Sarr goal was ruled offside. Abuzaid remained alert, pushing away a Pape Gueye shot as half-time approached.
Gueye restored Senegal’s lead just before the break, side-footing a cross into the net in added time to give his side a 2-1 advantage at half-time.
Mbaye, introduced midway through the second half, made an instant impact by latching onto a long pass and finishing past Abuzaid at the near post to secure Senegal’s 3-1 win.
