Senegal vs Sudan Player Ratings: Pape Gueye’s Brace Seals 3-1 Comeback Win as Teranga Lions Reach Quarter-Finals

Senegal national football team shocked Sudan with an impressive comeback win in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash. Sudan came out of the blocks flying, scoring a shock opener inside six minutes. It felt like a classic underdog story was unfolding at the Grand Stade de Tanger. From our perspective, Senegal looked rattled for a moment.

However, the Lions of Teranga showed their champion mentality. They slowly grew into the game, recovering from the early setback. The equalizer came from a moment of sheer class as it was the turning point in the intense clash.

What stood out to us was how the Teranga Lions didn't panic, trusting their superior talent to find a way back into the AFCON clash. The end of the first half was simply full of energy. Senegal grabbed the lead in stoppage time, completely flipping the script.

The second half was a more controlled affair, with Senegal managing the game well and not letting Sudan take any kind of advantage. They eventually sealed the victory with a third goal, booking their place in the next round. It was a deserved win, despite the early scare. Sudan succumbed to a scoreline of 3:1 as their AFCON journey came to an end after a great fight. Sportsdunia gives you all the insights on the Senegal vs Sudan Player Ratings.

Senegal Player Ratings vs Sudan

Goalkeeper

Edouard Mendy - 6.5: Couldn't do much about the early goal, which was a fantastic strike. He made a couple of important saves afterwards to keep Sudan from gaining any more momentum. A relatively quiet evening for him otherwise, but he was dependable when called upon.

Defenders

Abdoulaye Seck - 6.5: Had a shaky start like the rest of the defense, but grew into the game. He won most of his aerial duels and was strong at the back. He even had a header saved brilliantly just before halftime. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Ismail Jakobs - 6.0: An eventful and short outing for the left-back. He picked up an early yellow card, which seemed to affect his aggression. He still managed to put in a key cross before being substituted early in the second half. We felt the substitution was a tactical one to avoid a potential second yellow.

Krépin Diatta - 7.0: A very industrious performance from the right-back. He was a constant outlet on the wing, delivering several dangerous crosses. Defensively, he was sound and won his tackles. A reliable and energetic display throughout his time on the pitch.

Moussa Niakhaté - 6.5: A bit clumsy at times, giving away a few unnecessary fouls. However, his pass accuracy was impressive, helping build from the back. He formed a decent partnership with Seck and made some crucial clearances when Sudan pressed.

Midfielders

Idrissa Gueye - 7.5: The captain led by example in the middle of the park. He was calm on the ball and broke up play effectively with key tackles and interceptions. His experience was vital in settling the team down after going behind. A true general's performance.

Habib Diarra - 6.5: A tidy performance from the young midfielder. He kept the ball moving with a high pass completion rate and drew a couple of fouls. Didn't have a massive impact on the game's outcome, but it was a solid cog in the machine before being substituted.

Pape Gueye - 9.5: What a game. The clear man of the match. His first goal was a superb strike to bring Senegal level. His second, just before the half, was a clinical finish that showed great composure. He was a dominant force, winning duels and driving his team forward. A truly sensational performance.

Forwards

Sadio Mané - 9.0: The creative genius behind Senegal's comeback. One of the best African players Sadio Mane provided two brilliant assists and was a constant thorn in Sudan's side. His five key passes tell the story of a player who unlocked the defense time and time again. Even without scoring, his influence was immense.

Nicolas Jackson - 5.5: A frustrating night for the striker. He got the assist for the second goal, but that was his only real contribution. From our perspective, he looked off the pace, missed a big chance, and his body language showed his disappointment. The early substitution was not a surprise.

Ismaïla Sarr - 7.0: Always a threat with his pace and dribbling. He created a big chance and had a couple of shots on target saved. He worked hard for the team but was perhaps a little wasteful at times. Still, a dangerous performance that kept the opposition defenders busy.

Substitutes

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 6.5: Came on for Jakobs and provided fresh legs down the left. Was solid defensively and didn't make any errors.

Boulaye Dia - 6.0: Replaced Jackson but struggled to get into the game. He had one missed shot but wasn't able to make a significant impact.

Lamine Camara - 6.5: Brought on to add energy and control to the midfield, and he did his job well. Kept things simple and helped see out the win.

Ibrahim Mbaye - 7.5: The perfect impact sub. He came on and sealed the game with a well-taken goal on the counterattack. A dream contribution.

Pathé Ciss - N/A: Came on too late to make any real impact on the match.

Manager

P. Thiaw - 7.5: His team was shocked early, but he didn't panic. His decision to trust his key players paid off. His substitutions were logical, especially bringing on Mbaye who scored the crucial third goal. A successful day at the office.

Sudan Player Ratings vs Senegal

Goalkeeper

Monged Elneel - 7.0: Despite conceding three goals, he was one of Sudan's best players. He made six saves, including a couple of spectacular ones to deny Seck and Jackson. Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse. A valiant effort in a losing cause.

Defenders

Mohamed Saeed Ahmed - 6.0: He won an impressive number of duels and was a strong presence. However, the defense was ultimately overwhelmed by Senegal's relentless attack. A mixed bag of a performance.

Mustafa Karshom - 5.5: He made several clearances but struggled against Senegal's fluid forward line. He was forced off with an injury after an hour. A difficult evening for the centre-back.

Bakhit Khamis - 5.5: As captain, he tried to organize his defense but they were often pulled apart. He made some important interventions but was part of a backline that conceded three goals. A tough day against top-quality opposition.

Sheddy Barglan - 5.0: A night to forget. He committed several fouls, picked up a yellow card, and missed a golden opportunity to score. He looked out of his depth against the likes of Mané and Sarr.

Midfielders

Mohamed Abuaagla - 6.0: He worked hard in midfield, winning a fair share of his duels and making four interceptions. However, he struggled to get his foot on the ball and influence the game offensively before being substituted.

Walieldin Khidir - 7.0: Provided the assist for the opening goal and created a couple of other chances. He was Sudan's most creative outlet and looked comfortable on the ball. A very positive display despite the result.

Mohamed Abdelrahman - 6.0: He had a quiet game and struggled to impose himself. His passing was a bit wayward, and he was eventually substituted after being caught offside.

Ammar Taifour - 5.5: He ran a lot and recovered the ball several times, but he was largely ineffective. He lost possession too often and couldn't cope with Senegal's midfield power.

Aamir Abdallah - 7.5: Sudan's standout performer. Scored a sensational opening goal and was a constant threat with his shooting from distance. He worked tirelessly for his team and was unlucky to be on the losing side. A performance full of heart and quality.

Forwards

Mo Eisa - 6.0: A very isolated figure up front. He worked hard and won a lot of duels, but he was starved of service. He had one shot on target but was otherwise left chasing shadows for most of the match.

Substitutes

Altayeb Abdelrazig - 6.0: Came on for the injured Karshom and did his best to shore up the defense, but the damage was already done.

Salah Adil - 5.5: Brought on to add some spark but ended up getting a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. Didn't offer much going forward.

Al Gozoli Nooh - 6.0: A late substitute who tried to get involved but had little time to make an impact.

Abdel Raouf - 6.0: Another late substitute who didn't have enough time to change the game's flow.

Manager

J. Appiah - 6.5: His team started brilliantly with a perfect game plan that led to the early goal. However, they couldn't sustain the pressure and were ultimately outclassed. His side showed great spirit, but lacked the quality to compete for 90 minutes.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match: Pape Gueye