Alioune Ndoye crowned a remarkable Portuguese League Cup campaign by scoring the decisive goal in the final against Sporting Braga, handing Vitória Guimarães their first title in the competition.
The 24-year-old Senegalese striker once again proved that he needs little time to change the course of a match.
Introduced as a substitute in the 78th minute – a rare role for him in this tournament – Ndoye delivered the moment that will be replayed for years in Guimarães.
Five minutes later, in the 83rd minute, he rose to meet a cross and powered a header beyond the Braga goalkeeper, putting Vitória in front and securing a historic triumph.
The scenes that followed underlined what the goal meant.
Vitória Guimarães had never lifted the Portuguese League Cup, and for a club that prides itself on its identity and youth development, this breakthrough carried deep symbolic value.
At the heart of it all stood Ndoye, a forward who has turned the knockout stages of this competition into his personal stage.
His influence had already been decisive days earlier in the semi-final against Sporting Lisbon.
With Vitória trailing and time running out, Ndoye struck twice in stoppage time to overturn the contest and book a 2-1 victory.
That extraordinary turnaround had propelled the Conquistadores into the final, and it was fitting that the same player should provide the defining moment on the biggest night.
“You can never give Alioune Ndoye anything, especially in the Portuguese League Cup. He turns even the slightest opportunity into a goal, even more so when it comes to turning around a losing situation,” as the mood around the club has increasingly reflected.
Against Braga, that reputation was confirmed once more, as Vitória struggled to break down a stubborn opponent before their unlikely hero stepped off the bench.
Ndoye’s journey to this moment has been one of persistence and sharp finishing.
Formerly of Teungueth FC, he has built a reputation for his movement in the penalty area and his ability to stay composed under pressure.
That calmness was evident in the final, where his late header carried not only technical quality but also the weight of history.
Vitória Guimarães have long been a respected presence in Portuguese football, but major silverware has often proved elusive.
VITÓRIA, OBRIGADO POR ME FAZERES SONHAR. ESTA É NOSSA! pic.twitter.com/7nrcswzW2U
— Vitória Sport Clube (@VitoriaSC1922) January 10, 2026
This League Cup victory therefore represents more than a trophy; it signals a club capable of converting promise into achievement.
Ndoye’s intervention has already entered local folklore, with supporters joking that, should he continue at this rate, a statue may one day stand in his honour outside the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques.
For now, however, the striker remains focused on the present, content to let his goals do the talking.
In a competition that has repeatedly hinged on fine margins, Alioune Ndoye has emerged as the defining figure, the man who transformed fleeting chances into enduring glory.
