Against Iraq in the group stage of the World Cup, Ibrahim Mbaye failed to meet the expectations placed on him. Starting in a match largely dominated by the Lions (5-0), the Paris Saint-Germain winger delivered a performance that was deemed lackluster, showing little influence on the offensive actions. This outing comes at a time when his effectiveness raises questions, especially regarding his ability to make an impact when he starts games compared to his more impactful appearances off the bench seen earlier.
The contrast was even more apparent as his substitute, Iliman Ndiaye, immediately changed the pace of the match. Coming on as a substitute, the Senegalese player made his mark with an assist and then a goal, confirming his importance in key moments. This dynamic reignited the debate over the coach’s offensive choices as they approach a tougher matchup against Belgium in the Round of 16.
In a press conference ahead of this clash, coach Pape Bouna Thiaw sought to calm the critics and put the young winger’s performance into a broader perspective, emphasizing the management of developing players within the squad.
“Ibrahim Mbaye is always ready to start, that’s for sure,” the coach emphasized. “He’s a player who has always satisfied us. It’s true, we’re used to seeing him provide an assist or score a goal. He wasn’t decisive in the last match, but we continue to trust him. We know what he can bring to this team, just like all the other players. We need to support these young players. We know we will need him.”
The coach continues by calling for patience and the player’s progression, regardless of his role in the upcoming match. He also points out that the reaction of the player himself after his performance shows a high level of expectation, while stressing the importance of learning at this stage of the competition: “Whether he starts or comes off the bench (against Belgium), we hope he plays a better match. Clearly, he wasn’t happy with his performance in the last match. But that’s football. He needs to learn and keep showing great things. We hope that will be the case tomorrow (Wednesday).”
🗣️Pape Thiaw on Ibrahim Mbaye
“Ibrahim is always ready to start matches. He’s a player who brings us a lot and is often decisive. It’s a shame he wasn’t in the last match, but we continue to trust him. These are young… pic.twitter.com/dR9djmpEKw
— Khadim Diakhaté (@Ahmadoubamba36) July 1, 2026
