Senegal first to book place in Cup of Nations quarter-finals

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TANGIER, Morocco, Jan 3 - A double from midfielder Pape Gueye saw Senegal come from behind to ease past Sudan 3-1 on Saturday and become the first side to book a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

They were behind after six minutes of their last-16 clash at the Grande Stade Tangier but Gueye scored two goals before halftime and 17-year-old Ibrahima Mbaye added a third 13 minutes from the end.

Senegal will now meet either Mali or Tunisia, who play later on Saturday in Casablanca, in the last eight on Friday.

Senegal, the 2021 Cup of Nations winners, are the second-ranked team in Africa and, despite conceding early, showed their quality and strength to win in comfortable fashion. REUTERS