Teenage substitute Ibrahim Mbaye scored just four minutes after coming off the bench to secure a 3–1 victory for the Senegal national football team against the Sudan national football team on Saturday in Tangiers, opening the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 stage.
The 17-year-old forward, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, previously represented France at the youth level before switching allegiance to Senegal, his father’s homeland. His composed finish late in the second half put the result beyond doubt.
Former champions Senegal will face either the Mali national football team or the Tunisia national football team in the quarter-finals, after they meet later in Casablanca.
Sudan stunned Senegal early when Aamir Abdallah struck in the sixth minute. Senegal responded with authority and turned the game around before the break through two goals from Pape Gueye, taking a 2–1 lead into half-time. Mbaye added the third goal in the 77th minute to cap a dominant display.
Le Sénégal d'Ibrahim Mbaye est en quarts de finale de l'#AFCON2025 !
Notre Parisien est devenu le plus jeune buteur de la compétition au 21ème siècle ! 💎 pic.twitter.com/lkFAxCrJkh
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) January 3, 2026Despite a 99-place ranking gap between the teams, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw praised Sudan’s resilience. He said his side had to dig deep after conceding early and stressed the need to address mistakes before the next round.
Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah expressed disappointment with the result but commended his players for their effort. He said the team competed with pride despite difficult circumstances at home.
Abdallah’s opening goal showcased quality and composure as he controlled the ball inside the area and curled a shot over former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Sudan, which reached the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams, struggled to create further chances.
Senegal controlled possession and pressed relentlessly. Sadio Mané played a key role in the comeback, setting up Gueye for the equaliser. The Villarreal midfielder then struck again in added time before the interval to give Senegal a deserved lead.
Sudan goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid made several strong saves. At the same time, VAR intervened twice to deny Senegal further goals, including a reversal of a penalty decision and an offside call against Ismaila Sarr.
Senegal continued to push after the break and found the insurance goal through Mbaye, who latched onto a long pass and finished confidently at the near post. The match was watched by Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, as Senegal advanced with authority.
