AFCON 2025: Pape Gueye named Man of the Match in Senegal's comeback victory over Sudan

Pape Gueye produced a dominant all-round display in midfield and attack to claim Man of the Match as Senegal overturned a deficit to defeat Sudan 3–1 in Tangier and secure a place in the AFCON 2025 quarter-finals.The midfielder struck twice in the first half, completely turning the game around after Sudan’s early shock.Sudan had stunned the defending champions after just six minutes when Aamir Abdallah finished a rapid counter with a brilliant curling effort.Senegal needed a response, and Gueye provided it on 29 minutes, latching onto a pass from Sadio Mané and driving a low shot past the keeper to level. Deep into first-half stoppage time, he struck again, this time with a superb curling finish from inside the box after good work from Nicolas Jackson, sending Senegal into the break 2–1 up.After the interval, Edouard Mendy produced a crucial save to deny Sheddy Barglan before Senegal took full control.Substitute Ibrahima Mbaye added a third from another Mane assist on 77 minutes, but it was Gueye’s decisive brace and all-round authority that rightly earned him the individual honour on a dominant night for the Lions of Teranga.