AFCON: Senegal survive Sudan scare, advance into quarter-final

Senegal recovered from a deficit to overpower Sudan 3-1 in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 encounter at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier.

A brace from Pape Gueye and Ibrahim Mbaye’s clincher guided Senegal through the tricky encounter in which Aamir Abdallah scored a shock opener for Sudan, the North African nation appearing in the round of 16 stage for the first time since 2012.

Abdallah stunned the stadium in the sixth minute with a wonder strike, curling into the top far corner from just inside the area as Senegal failed to clear their lines.

Abdallah’s goal is Sudan’s first in the knockout round since 1970.

Senegal, champions in 2021, levelled the encounter on 29 minutes when Sadio Mane dispossessed Sudan of the ball in midfield and went on to lay the ball for Gueye who slotted a low shot into the bottom right corner for 1-1.

The Villarreal midfielder restored the order on the stroke of halftime with a left foot strike into the top corner from Nicholas Jackson’s cutback to send Senegal into the break 2-1 ahead.

Pape Thiaw’s Senegal side went on to dominate the second period but had to wait until the 77th minute to seal victory, Mbaye finished off a counter attack with a first-time strike for 3-1, kickstarting the party in the stands as Senegal return to the last eight of the competition after a disappointing round of 16 exit at AFCON 2023.

Senegal will face either Mali or Tunisia in the last-eight of the competition.

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