Ethiopia-Senegal: The game and the players — Pape Gueye struggling, Assane Diao under pressure, Ibrahim Mbaye decisive

After a disappointing draw against Mozambique, Senegal hoped to put on a more convincing display against Ethiopia on Tuesday in their second match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. However, the changes made by Patrick Vieira did not produce the desired effect. Despite a narrow 1-0 victory, the Lions delivered another sluggish performance, lacking rhythm and control for much of the game.

Yehvann Diouf - 6/10

After being criticized for Mozambique's equalizing goal last Friday, Yehvann Diouf proved decisive this time. His save from a dangerous header by the Ethiopian striker in the second half allowed Senegal to preserve their lead and secure a 1-0 victory. A reassuring performance for the Lions' goalkeeper, who kept a clean sheet this time.

Moussa Niakhaté - 6/10

Moussa Niakhaté is confirming, match after match, his intention to establish himself as one of the leaders of the Senegalese defense. Clean and disciplined, the Olympique Lyonnais defender delivered another solid performance. He completed 54 of his 55 passes, won four duels while losing only one, and committed no fouls. A serious display.

Sadibou Sané - 6/10

In his second match with the Lions, Sadibou Sané continues to improve. More focused than in his first appearance, the defender proved valuable in duels and ball recovery, winning back possession six times. He committed only one foul and displayed greater composure in his interventions.

Malang Sarr - 5/10

Malang Sarr's debut for Senegal was not entirely convincing. Struggling with his positioning, he also had difficulty distributing the ball. It was a first outing that still needs improvement for the defender, who will need to quickly find his place in the team.

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 4/10

Positioned as a left wing-back, El Hadji Malick Diouf didn't really make an impact on the match. Lacking inspiration, he lost possession several times and missed numerous passes. His attacking contribution also remained limited, even though his role in this system should have allowed him to get forward more.

Lamine Camara - 5/10

Lamine Camara had a difficult first half, largely due to Vieira's system. However, the midfielder remained influential in Senegal's play. The introduction of Gana Gueye allowed him to play with more freedom and regain a greater impact in midfield.

Pape Guèye - 4/10

Highly anticipated after a disappointing performance against Mozambique, Pape Gueye once again failed to deliver. The Senegalese midfielder quickly found himself in trouble and received a yellow card in the 19th minute.

He then narrowly avoided being sent off. The referee, who initially seemed intent on booking Pape Guèye a second time, ultimately issued the card to another player. A warning that could have had serious consequences for the Lions. Pape Guèye was finally substituted in the 65th minute, replaced by Bara Ndiaye.

Abdallah Sima - 4/10

Less dangerous than during his appearance against Mozambique, Abdallah Sima failed to make an impact. He offered few initiatives, delivered few crosses, and created no clear-cut chances. The striker was replaced in the 65th minute by Soumaré.

Assane Diao - 4/10

Starting on the right wing, Assane Diao didn't pose enough of a threat. His few runs down the flank were poorly executed in the final pass. Most importantly, his lack of defensive work sometimes caused problems for the central defenders, who were forced to cover more of the wing.

A difficult performance for the young striker, who was substituted in the 55th minute.

Ibrahim Mbaye - 7/10

The hero of the evening. The only goalscorer of the match, Ibrahim Mbaye was one of the few Senegalese players to bring dynamism and spontaneity. His runs regularly sparked the Lions' attacks.

He could even have finished the match with an assist if Nicolas Jackson had converted his chance in the final minutes. A very promising performance from the young striker.

Nicolas Jackson - 6/10

Although not always well served by his teammates, Nicolas Jackson was nonetheless very involved in the game. The Lions' center forward often dropped deep to receive the ball and participate in the build-up play.

He was instrumental in Ibrahim Mbaye's goal. After a skillful dribble, Jackson drew the two Ethiopian center-backs away before perfectly setting up his teammate. It was a decisive move in a match where Senegalese chances were few and far between.

A victory, but many questions remain.

Senegal secured the essentials with this victory, but the performance still left something to be desired. Vieira's experimental system failed to produce the hoped-for fluidity, and several key players, such as Pape Guèye, continued to struggle.