Senegal secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Sudan, inspired by a brace from Pape Gueye and a late strike from teenage substitute Ibrahim Mbaye.
The former champions were briefly shaken in the opening minutes of the Round of 16 clash in Tangier when Aamir Abdallah handed Sudan a surprise sixth-minute lead.
However, Senegal responded confidently, overturning the deficit before half-time through two well-taken goals from Gueye.
Mbaye then sealed the win in the 77th minute, scoring just four minutes after his introduction to cap an impressive Senegalese comeback.
Senegal will now face either Mali or Tunisia in the quarter-finals, with the two sides set to meet later on Saturday in Casablanca.
The outcome was largely anticipated, with Senegal ranked 99 places above Sudan, which has been representing a nation devastated by civil war since April 2023.
Senegal coach Aliou Cissé made six changes to the team that defeated Botswana 3–0 in their final group game, with suspended captain and central defender Kalidou Koulibaly the most notable omission.
Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah, a Ghanaian by birth, retained only Abdallah from the side that lost 2–0 to Burkina Faso in their previous match.
The encounter marked the first AFCON meeting between Senegal and Sudan, although the teams had previously faced each other in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with Senegal winning at home and drawing away.
Sudan stunned their more fancied opponents early on through Abdallah, a semi-professional striker who plays for an Australian second-tier club in Melbourne.
He collected the ball inside the box and curled a superb effort over former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Despite reaching the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed teams, Sudan had failed to score during the group phase, with an own goal securing their only win against Equatorial Guinea.
Senegal soon asserted control, dominating possession and creating chances. Sudan goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid produced a brave save in the 29th minute to deny Nicolas Jackson.
The equaliser followed shortly after when former African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mané set up Gueye, who calmly fired a low shot into the corner.
Watched by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, Senegal continued to press while Sudan offered little attacking threat.
A penalty initially awarded to Senegal was overturned following a lengthy VAR review for offside in the build-up, while Ismaila Sarr later had a goal ruled out for the same reason.
Abuzaid remained busy and denied Gueye again before the midfielder struck for the second time in added time.
The Villarreal player side-footed home a cross with his left foot to give Senegal a deserved half-time lead.
In the second half, Senegal introduced Mbaye in search of a decisive third goal. The 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward made an immediate impact, latching onto a long pass and beating Abuzaid at his near post.
Mbaye, who previously represented France at the youth level before switching allegiance to Senegal through his father, ensured a comfortable finish as the reigning champions marched into the quarter-finals.
(Arise Tv)
