Ibrahim Mbayé, Senegal’s Unexpected Hero at AFCON 2025
At just 17, Ibrahim Mbaye has gone from prospect to decisive force for Senegal at AFCON. A historic goal and fearless personality.
The hero that breaks through at the AFCON
At 17 years and 344 days old, Ibrahim Mbaye has already achieved what many footballers never do in an entire career: deciding a knockout match at the Africa Cup of Nations. The young Paris Saint-Germain winger sealed Senegal’s 3–1 victory over Sudan and wrote his name into the tournament’s history books.
His goal was far from ordinary. It made Mbaye the youngest Senegalese goalscorer in AFCON history and the youngest player to score at the tournament in the 21st century, all on a night of maximum pressure, with a quarter-final spot on the line.
Instead of showing nerves, the teenager stepped onto the pitch with a maturity well beyond his years, confirming that his impact at this AFCON is no longer circumstantial, but structural.
All the excitement of AFCON 2025 exclusively on beIN SPORTS, starting December 21
The impact that changed matches
So far, Mbaye’s AFCON has been a sequence of decisive interventions. An assist for Sadio Mané, a penalty won against Benin, constant imbalance off the bench and, finally, the goal that sealed a round-of-16 victory.
His pace, spatial awareness and fearlessness in one-on-one situations have reshaped games whenever Senegal needed something different. Mbaye didn’t come on just to log minutes, he came on to tip the balance.
Even opponents and former players have acknowledged his influence. The consensus is showing every appearance from the youngster changes the rhythm of the match, speeds Senegal up and forces defenders onto the back foot.
The coach’s trust and the dressing room’s backing
Head coach Pape Thiaw has been careful yet decisive. He manages Mbaye’s minutes, but trusts him in the most decisive moments, a clear sign of belief. For Thiaw, talent needs context, which is why he has surrounded the teenager with leaders like Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mané and Moussa Niakhaté.
Inside the dressing room, there is admiration rather than jealousy. Mané has praised Mbaye’s mentality and maturity, while players like Pape Gueye highlight his boldness and personality. Mbaye hasn’t just fitted in, he’s earned the group’s respect.
A choice of heart and a future already underway
Born in Trappes, France, to a Senegalese father and a Moroccan mother, Mbaye had international options. His decision, however, was clear: to play for Senegal. It was not a strategic move, but an emotional one. Wearing the green shirt represented a childhood dream.
Now, that dream enters its most demanding phase. Mali await in the quarter-finals, a physical, intense rivalry loaded with history. And although Mbaye is still under 18, Senegal already see him as a key weapon, whether from the start or as a game-changing substitute.
