Senegal's historic AFCON 2025 triumph produced another remarkable milestone, as Ibrahim Mbaye became the youngest player to win an Africa Cup of Nations final since Ghana legend Abedi Pele achieved the feat in 1982.
Softfotbball gathered, at just 17 years and 11 months, Mbaye lifted the AFCON trophy with Senegal following their dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Morocco in the final played on Sunday, 18 January 2026 in Rabat . His achievement surpasses generations of African talents, placing him in an elite historical bracket.
The last time a player so young won an AFCON final was on 19 March 1982, when Abedi Pele, aged 17 years and 4 months, helped Ghana defeat Libya to claim continental glory. More than four decades later, Mbaye now stands alongside that iconic moment.
