Senegal beat Sudan to reach CAN quarter-finals as Pape Gueye scores double | Football news

Senegal came from behind to beat Sudan 3-1 and book their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Pape Gueye scored twice and teenager Ibrahim Mbaye scored the winner four minutes after coming off the bench to grab a goal. Senegal wins 3-1 against Sudan in Tangier during the first round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations.

Shaken by an early goal from Aamir Abdallah for Sudan on Saturday, Senegal rallied to lead 2-1 at half-time thanks to goals from Pape Gueye. Mbaye then put the result beyond doubt after 77 minutes.

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Senegal, former champion, will face Mali or Tunisia, who will meet on Saturday in Casablanca, in the quarter-finals.

This was a predictable result since Senegal occupies 99 places more in the world rankings than Sudan, which represented a country ravaged by civil war since April 2023.

Senegal made six changes to the team that started their 3-0 win over Botswana in their final group match. One notable absentee was captain and suspended central defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

Sudanese coach of Ghanaian origin, Kwesi Appiah, has retained only one member of the team that started the 2-0 defeat against Burkina Faso: striker Abdallah.

This was the first meeting of countries at a AFCON tournament. They were, however, in the same qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, with Senegal winning at home and drawing.

Sudan shook Senegal by taking the lead in the sixth minute through Abdallah, a semi-professional who plays for an Australian second division club in Melbourne.

It was a superb goal as the Sudanese striker gained possession just inside the area and curled the ball past former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and into the net.

Sudan qualified for the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed nations despite failing in three group matches. An own goal brought victory against Equatorial Guinea.

A brave save from Monged Abuzaid in the 29th minute thwarted Nicolas Jackson, on loan to Bayern Munich from Chelsea, but Senegal equalized almost immediately afterwards.

Former African Player of the Year Sadio Mané set up Pape Gueye, who equalized with a low shot into the corner of the net.

Senegal attacked continuously while Sudan had little to offer in a match watched by Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe of South Africa.

The Mauritanian referee pointed to the penalty spot after Ismaila Sarr was fouled by Abuzaid. However, the decision was overturned after a lengthy VAR review revealed a Senegalese player was offside in the build-up.

Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr then scored, before being ruled offside in another draw for the Sudanese.

Abuzaid was constantly in action and did well to push away a Pape Gueye shot with an outstretched right hand as half-time approached.

However, there was still time for Pape Gueye to score again and give Senegal the lead at half-time in the Mediterranean city.

The goal was brilliantly executed by the midfielder of La Liga club Villarreal after three minutes of added time. He used his left foot to place a cross into the net past Abuzaid.

Senegal introduced Mbaye midway through the second half as they sought assurance of a third goal. He made an immediate impact, latching onto a long pass and beating Abuzaid at his near post.

The 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker represented France at age-limit levels before switching international allegiance to Senegal, where his father was born.