Idrissa Gueye at centre of lovefest away from Everton amid ‘remarkable’ AFCON scenes
Idrissa Gueye has been praised for his stellar performance during Senegal’s 3-0 win over Botswana on Tuesday night.
Gueye has formed a brilliant partnership with James Garner for Everton, and the 36-year-old is ageing like fine wine at the heart of midfield.
Gueye’s red card against Man United on 24 November saw him suspended for three matches, but otherwise, he has been flawless under David Moyes as Everton chase European football this season.
Iliman Ndiaye and Gueye were in action for Senegal during their opening AFCON match, and the midfielder was particularly impressive against Botswana.
Idrissa Gueye thrives in Senegal’s 3-0 win over Botswana
Senegal beat Botswana 3-0 thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s brace and a late goal from Cherif Ndiaye, which Gueye happened to play a key part in.
According to media outlet DSPORTS, the Everton man was impressive alongside Pape Gueye in defensive midfield.
They said: “A true leader. At 36, the Everton midfielder delivered a masterful performance. Omnipresent in winning back possession, precise in his use of the ball, aggressive in pressing, and invaluable in initiating attacks, he dominated the midfield.
“His brilliant pass to [Cheikh] Sabaly for the third goal epitomised his complete performance. A truly top-class display. 7.5/10.”
| Idrissa Gueye | vs Botswana |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Pass accuracy | 90% (95/106) |
| Chances created | 3 |
| Touches | 116 |
This was echoed by Le Soleil’s print edition on Wednesday, as they couldn’t contain their praise for Gueye: “The veteran of the ‘Lions of Teranga’ was crucial in midfield. He distinguished himself in marking and winning back possession.
“Far from limiting himself to defensive duties, Gana, who combined lateral and vertical play, initiated several attacking moves that allowed the “Lions” to assault the “Zebras'” defence.
“The Everton player, playing his 23rd Africa Cup of Nations match, demonstrated remarkable maturity.”
Gueye made the most passes of any player in the match and controlled the tempo with ease as Senegal got off to the perfect start in Group D.
As for Ndiaye, he played centrally and was crucial in Senegal’s creative play throughout the match.
Iliman Ndiaye also delivers assured performance in Senegal vs Botswana
Ndiaye’s excellent run of form for Everton means he will be a huge miss over the festive period, with Tyler Dibling replacing him on the right wing for the foreseeable future.
During Tuesday’s game, Ndiaye created four chances and registered a pass accuracy of 94 per cent.
DSPORTS said: “Highly visible in the first half, the Senegalese playmaker was the main architect of the attacking play. Dangerous crosses, shots, dribbles, and key passes: he livened up the start of the match, but understandably, his pace dropped after the break. 6/10.”
With Senegal being named among the pre-tournament favourites, these displays from both Ndiaye and Gueye could become incredibly frequent over the next four weeks.
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