January 03, (THEWILL) — Senegal overturned an early deficit to defeat Sudan 3-1 in the African Cup of Nations last 16 at Grand Stade de Tanger. Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye netted twice before the interval, with Ibrahim Mbaye adding a third goal to confirm the victory and send Senegal into the quarter-finals.
Aamir Abdallah gave Sudan a shock advantage after only six minutes, bending a superb effort from outside the penalty area into the top left corner. Senegal struggled initially but grew into the match, and Gueye equalised following a through ball from Sadio Mane, slotting calmly into the bottom right corner.
The same player doubled his tally during first-half stoppage time, converting Nicolas Jackson’s low cross with a swift finish after a penalty award had been overturned by VAR.
Sheddy Barglan tested goalkeeper Edouard Mendy early in the second period, but Sudan could not find a route back into the contest. Mbaye then sealed the result with 13 minutes remaining, driving the ball home emphatically at the near post.
Senegal have now gone 15 AFCON fixtures without defeat, recording 10 wins and five draws since their 2019 final loss to Algeria. Only Nigeria, between 1992 and 2002, and Egypt from 2004 to 2017, have managed longer unbeaten sequences at the tournament than the Lions of Teranga.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
