Congo DR 2-3 Senegal Player Ratings: Pape Matar Sarr Rated 9/10 as Senegal Complete Thrilling 3-2 Comeback

What a rollercoaster of a football match. Senegal pulled off an incredible comeback to defeat Congo DR 3-2 in a chaotic CAF World Cup Qualifiers clash. The game, held at the boisterous Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte, was a true spectacle. From our perspective, this was a classic game of two halves.

Congo DR stormed into a shocking 2-0 lead. They looked unstoppable in the first half with goals from Cédric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa. It felt like Senegal was completely on the ropes and heading for a disaster. But whatever was said at halftime worked wonders for the visitors.

Senegal came out firing, pulling one back before the break, and then completely turned the match on its head. Goals from Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, and a dramatic late winner from a substitute sealed the deal. This match will be remembered for its sheer unpredictability and Senegal's resilience.

Here are Congo DR Vs Senegal Player Ratings

Congo DR Player Ratings vs Senegal

Here are Congo DR Player Ratings vs Senegal

Goalkeeper

Dimitry Bertaud - 4.5: A tough day at the office for the keeper. He couldn't do much about the first two goals which were well-taken but he looked a bit lost for the third. He was let down by his defence, but conceding three goals after being 2-0 up is a terrible look. We noticed his confidence seemed to drain as the game went on.

Defenders

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 5.0: Solid in the first half when Congo DR were on top. He made a few of his trademark tackles. But he was part of a defensive unit that completely capitulated in the second half, and he offered little going forward to relieve the pressure.

Dylan Batubinsika - 4.5: He and his partner Mbemba just couldn't handle Senegal's renewed energy. They were pulled apart for the equalizer and the winner. Looked strong initially but the pressure got to him. A disappointing collapse.

Chancel Mbemba - 5.0: As the captain, he needed to organize his backline better when Senegal started their comeback. He was dominant in the air early on, but seemed to lose control. A leader needs to step up in those moments, and from our perspective, he went missing.

Arthur Masuaku - 5.5: Showed some decent attacking intent in the first half, linking up with the forwards. However, his primary duty is to defend, and he was caught out of position multiple times in the second half. He just couldn't contain Senegal's wing play.

Midfielders

Edo Kayembe - 5.5: Worked hard and battled in the midfield for the full 90 minutes. He was energetic, but ultimately, he was part of a midfield that was completely overrun after halftime. He was fighting a losing battle against a superior Senegal midfield.

Samuel Moutoussamy - 5.0: Similar to Kayembe, he ran his socks off but was simply outclassed. He struggled to get a foothold in the game once Senegal took control. He was mostly chasing shadows for the final 30 minutes of the match.

Noah Sadiki - 6.5: One of the brighter sparks for Congo DR. He provided a nice assist and looked creative and dangerous when on the ball. It was a surprise to see him subbed off, as he was one of the few players causing Senegal problems. His departure seemed to coincide with his team losing their attacking threat.

Forwards

Meschack Elia - 6.0: He was lively and made some good runs in the first half, but his influence faded dramatically. He didn't offer enough support to his defence when Senegal was pressing. A quiet performance overall, especially when his team needed an outlet.

Cédric Bakambu - 8.5: What a performance from the striker. He was simply outstanding, scoring one and assisting another. He was a constant threat, his movement was intelligent, and his finishing was clinical. He deserved to be on the winning side, a truly brilliant display.

Yoane Wissa - 8.0: Scored a fantastic goal to put his team 2-0 up and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball in the first half. Like the rest of his team, his impact waned, but his contribution was immense. He was a genuine handful for the Senegal defence.

Substitutes

Nathanaël Mbuku - 5.0: Came on but struggled to get into the flow of the game. Hard to make an impact when your team is on the back foot.

Joris Kayembe - 5.0: Brought on to try and change things but the game had already swung in Senegal's favor.

Fiston Mayele - N/A: Didn't have enough time to influence the proceedings.

Manager

O. N'Goma Kondi - 5.0: His team started brilliantly, the game plan was perfect. But he had no answer when Senegal changed gears. His substitutions didn't work and he watched his side throw away a two-goal lead at home. A very disappointing result for him.

Senegal Player Ratings vs Congo DR

Here are Senegal Player Ratings vs Congo DR

Goalkeeper

Edouard Mendy - 6.0: Looked a bit shaky for the two goals he conceded, especially the second one. However he regained his composure and made a couple of important claims in the second half. It wasn't his best game, but his team's comeback saved him from major criticism.

Defenders

Kalidou Koulibaly - 7.5: A true captain's performance. After a difficult first half, he was immense in the second. He was defensively solid and even popped up with an assist. What stood out to us was his leadership, constantly driving his team forward. A rock.

Abdoulaye Seck - 6.5: He had a tough time against Bakambu and Wissa in the first 45 minutes. But he, like the rest of the defence, improved significantly after the break. He made some crucial blocks and interceptions to keep Congo DR at bay.

Midfielders

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 7.0: A really energetic performance across the 90 minutes. He covered so much ground, both in attack and defence. He was a key part of Senegal's engine room that overwhelmed the opposition in the second half. Very impressive work rate.

Idrissa Gueye - 7.0: The experienced head in midfield. He was calm on the ball and helped dictate the tempo once Senegal got a foothold. He broke up play effectively and his simple, intelligent passing was vital for the comeback.

Lamine Camara - 6.0: A decent outing before being substituted. He struggled a bit in the first half but grew into the game. He played his part before making way for a fresh pair of legs.

Sadio Mané - 6.5: A surprisingly quiet game by his lofty standards. He showed flashes of his brilliance but couldn't stamp his authority on the game. Still, his presence alone occupies defenders. Not his best day but still contributed to the team's overall effort.

Iliman Ndiaye - 8.0: Scored the crucial first goal for Senegal that sparked the comeback. He was a creative force throughout the match, linking midfield and attack beautifully. A fantastic performance full of skill and determination.

Krépin Diatta - 7.0: A tireless worker on the flank. He was a constant outlet for his team and tracked back diligently. His delivery from wide areas caused problems for the Congo DR defence all game long.

Pape Gueye - 8.0: He was a dominant force in the middle, scoring the equalizing goal to make it 2-2. He was powerful, aggressive (picked up a yellow to prove it), and his goal was a huge moment in the match. He was substituted later on but his impact was undeniable.

Forwards

Nicolas Jackson - 8.0: He did what all good strikers do - he scored a vital goal. His finish for the equalizer was composed and clinical. His movement off the ball was excellent and he worked tirelessly to press the opposition defenders. A great shift from the forward.

Substitutes

Habib Diarra - 6.0: Came on and added energy to the midfield, helping to see out the win.

Pape Matar Sarr - 9.0: The hero of the day. To come off the bench and score the winning goal in the 87th minute is what dreams are made of. A game-changing substitution and an incredible impact. Our man of the match without a doubt.

Cheikh Sabaly - 7.5: Another substitute who made a massive impact. He provided the assist for the winning goal, showing great awareness and composure. A brilliant cameo.

Manager

Joseph Senghor - 8.0: Things looked bleak at 2-0 down. But his halftime adjustments were masterful. More importantly, his substitutions were absolutely perfect, with Sarr and Sabaly combining for the winner. He turned a disaster into a famous victory.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Pape Matar Sarr