Ibrahim Mbaye only has 26 professional matches (1 goal, 2 assists) with PSG but that did not prevent Pape Thiaw from trusting him. The coach’s choice to call up the young Parisian who is not even 18 years old (he will be on January 24) has paid off. After a first appearance (15 minutes) during the friendly defeat against Brazil (2-0) last Saturday, the Parisian striker this time celebrated his first start with Senegal against Kenya. He will undoubtedly remember it for a very long time since he is the unofficial man of the match.
The Lions of Teranga crushed their opponent in a friendly 8-0! The opportunity for Mbaye to open his international account – a left cross shot at the entrance to the area in the 48th minute – in addition to distributing two assists (for Malick Diouf 12th and Sadio Mané 17th) and causing a penalty converted by Mané (31st). All in just 68 minutes spent on the pitch until his replacement to applause by Cheikh Sabaly. The native of Trappes, who became the youngest scorer and passer in the history of Senegal, undoubtedly scored points a few weeks before the CAN, and seven months before the World Cup.
Involved in 4 of 8 goals
“I wanted to congratulate my players because they really respected the instructions. They played a serious match, respecting our phases of play, and I found that very important», reacted Pape Thiaw after the day’s victory, particularly satisfied with the summer of spirit. “When you have competitive players, who don’t like to lose, and who are able to bounce back after a defeat, it’s an asset», continued the coach, lowering the record for his team’s biggest victory. “We just wanted to win this match and play seriously. Playing a decent match was our goal, and it was achieved. Congratulations to the players.»
The boss of the selection is well aware of this adversity, to be put into perspective, but it is a boon for the player trained at PSG. It continues its progression in a linear manner. With already 14 appearances in all competitions this club season, he is increasingly entering Luis Enrique’s rotation. If he is still irregular, his start against Barça in the Champions League shows the confidence the Asturian coach places in him. The injuries to Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé offer him the opportunity to play more and display this brand new international status.
