Pape Gueye etched his name into African football history on a night of high drama, scoring a historic goal in the Africa Cup of Nations final to put Senegal ahead during the first half of extra time, with the second period still to be played. His strike made him the first player to score in extra time of an AFCON final since Ndaye Mulamba for DR Congo and Brighton Sinyangwe for Zambia on March 12, 1974.
The goal carried multiple layers of significance. It was Senegal’s 100th goal in Africa Cup of Nations history, a symbolic milestone reached on the biggest possible stage. Even more remarkably, it was also Senegal’s first-ever goal in an AFCON final, finally breaking a long-standing barrier for the Lions of Teranga after years of near misses.
With one half of extra time still remaining, tension remains high, but whatever the final outcome, Pape Gueye’s name is already secured in the history books, his strike standing as a moment that bridged generations and reshaped Senegal’s AFCON story.