Senegal's emerging star, Ibrahim Mbaye, made history in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 on Sunday by becoming the youngest goalscorer of the 21st century in the prestigious tournament.
At just 17 years and 344 days old, Mbaye found the net in Senegal’s impressive 3–1 Round of 16 victory over Sudan, solidifying his place in AFCON history.
The match saw Pape Gueye score twice to give Senegal a commanding lead, but it was Mbaye's late strike that sealed the comeback. Though he started the match on the bench, the PSG forward wasted no time making an impact. Just three minutes after being subbed on, Mbaye confidently finished a well-crafted move initiated by captain Sadio Mané, extending Senegal's advantage and securing their progression to the next round.
Mbaye’s goal not only contributed to Senegal’s victory but also underscored his potential as one of the nation’s brightest prospects, despite his limited playing time in the tournament.
**Breaking Mikel Obi’s Record**
Mbaye's goal, scored in the 77th minute, was historic for another reason. The young forward surpassed a long-standing AFCON record held by Nigeria's former captain, John Obi Mikel, who was 18 years, 9 months, and 5 days old when he scored on his AFCON debut in 2006.
Mikel's record had stood for nearly two decades until Mbaye broke it with his superb finish. Mikel had made an immediate impact for the Super Eagles, scoring a stunning goal from outside the penalty area to help Nigeria secure a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe in that year’s tournament.
**Other Youngest Goalscorers**
Ibrahim Mbaye now holds the record as the youngest player to score in an AFCON tournament in the 21st century. Behind him in third place is former Nigerian international Victor Obinna, who was 18 years, 10 months, and 10 days old when he scored against Tunisia in 2006.
Other notable young scorers in AFCON history include Nigerian players Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who scored against Mali in 2002, and Julius Aghahowa, who netted against Algeria in the same tournament.
**A Touch of Superstition**
In a lighter moment, the match between Senegal and Sudan was preceded by an intriguing prediction from a mysterious cat named Nimbus Pronos. The cat walked to the Senegal bowl and began eating, a gesture that many interpreted as a sign of good luck for Senegal and bad omen for Sudan.
Source: Yen.com.gh
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