The stadiums of the Kingdom of Morocco, which are hosting the great African tournament, witnessed a fiery encounter last Saturday evening, between the defending champion and one of the top contenders, the Senegalese national team, and their Sudanese counterpart, the "Falcons of Jediane", as part of the round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. All eyes were on the top stars, specifically the duo from the Saudi Professional League: Sadio Mane, the star of Al-Nassr Club, and Edouard Mendy, the goalkeeper of Al-Ahli Club, who played a pivotal role in deciding the match.
A Senegalese comeback and a well-deserved qualification
In a thrilling and closely contested match, the "Lions of Teranga" turned the tables on the Sudanese national team. After initially falling behind to a surprising goal that disrupted their plans, the Senegalese team, thanks to the experience and mental fortitude of its players, managed to equalize and score three consecutive goals, ending the match with a resounding 3-1 victory. With this win, Senegal secured the first ticket to the quarterfinals, sending a strong message to the other competitors that they are determined to maintain their continental dominance in the tournament, which continues until January 18th.
The impact of the Roshan League stars: Experience makes the difference
Senegal's victory was more than just a fluke; it reflected the brilliance of their professional stars in the Saudi league. The impact of international stars moving to Saudi Arabia on their national teams has long been a topic of discussion, and this match confirmed that the high level of competition in the Saudi Professional League has honed the skills of these stars. Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy provided exemplary leadership and professionalism throughout the 90 minutes.
What has Sadio Mane offered? The maestro and playmaker
Sadio Mane played the role of the driving force in the attack, and although he didn't score a goal himself, his impact was evident in creating plays and disrupting Sudan's defense, earning him a high rating of (8.1). His detailed statistics are as follows:
- Number of minutes: 90 full minutes.
- Assists: 2 (directly contributed to two goals).
- Shots: One shot.
- He touched the ball 58 times, reflecting his active participation in building attacks.
- Passing accuracy: He passed 35 balls, 29 of which were correct.
- Crosses: He made 9 crosses, 2 of which were successful.
- Long balls: 2 correct long balls with 100% accuracy.
- Tackling: He showed physical strength by winning 6 out of 9 ground tackles, while losing 2 aerial tackles.
Edward Mendy... the safety valve
At the back, Edouard Mendy was present with a clear mind, and despite conceding a goal, his contribution to building play from the back and his crucial saves gave his teammates confidence, earning him a rating of (7.2). His statistics were as follows:
- Number of minutes: 90 minutes.
- Saves: He made two crucial saves.
- Touches of the ball: 41 times.
- Passing accuracy: He passed 36 balls, 27 of which were correct, highlighting his role in bringing the ball out.
- Long balls: He played 15 long balls, and succeeded in delivering 6 of them to his teammates.
With this performance, the duo proves that their presence in Saudi stadiums has only increased their brilliance, as they await the outcome of the quarter-final round in Senegal's journey towards the continental title.
