TANGIERS:
Senegal’s 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye has emerged as a possible future star for African soccer, and his function as an excellent substitute on the Africa Cup of Nations may but show decisive for his staff.
One in every of plenty of thrilling new gamers on show during the last three weeks on the event in Morocco, Mbaye has made the largest affect, that includes in every of Senegal’s matches off the bench.
As they put together to face Egypt in Wednesday’s semi-final in Tangiers, his affect can be a part of the planning as Senegal look to advance to Sunday’s remaining.
His highly effective and pacy operating, dribbling expertise, and a pointy nostril for objective have given Senegal a severe addition to their already much-vaunted assault.
“He’s a gem, and we have to nurture him,” stated coach Pape Bouna Thiaw.
“We all know what he can deliver to this staff, and we are going to do the whole lot we are able to to make sure he thrives and is at his finest.”
Mbaye netted in Senegal’s 3-1 win over Sudan within the spherical of 16, formally changing into, at 17 years, 11 months, and 11 days, the second youngest scorer in event historical past. The youngest is Chiva Nzigou of Gabon, who was allegedly 16 when he scored within the 2000 finals, however has since admitted being an age cheat, though the document will not be expunged.
Mbaye, who turns 18 this month, was near a objective in Senegal’s second group sport in opposition to the Democratic Republic of Congo when he was introduced on a minute after the Congolese took the lead in Tangiers.
Influence from the bench
Eight minutes later, a surging run down the fitting led to him firing off a shot that the goalkeeper couldn’t maintain, permitting Sadio Mane to equalise.
“He has this spark inside him. He is younger, however you do not discover that on the pitch. Each time he comes on, he brings one thing further,” stated Senegal teammate Krepin Diatta.
Mbaye gained his first cap in November, in a pleasant in opposition to Brazil, having one month beforehand performed for France’s under-19 staff, with Thiaw visiting him at Paris St Germain to steer him to modify allegiance.
“It was simple to persuade the participant. Ibrahim wished to play for Senegal,” stated the coach.
That they had been monitoring him from final season when PSG used him as a starter for his or her opening match of the Ligue 1 marketing campaign. He was an unused substitute within the Champions League remaining in opposition to Inter Milan in Could and this season has began eight occasions for the French giants, together with October’s Champions League win at Barcelona.
Thiaw says the expertise of rubbing shoulders with Senegal’s high gamers can be helpful for Mbaye.
“He’s in a squad the place he has the prospect to work with gamers like Sadio Mane, who has gained the whole lot and may information him, like Kalidou Koulibaly and Gana Gueye, who’re conversant in the very best stage. Now, we have to defend him correctly,” added the coach.
