Senegal Advances to AFCON Quarterfinals with Convincing Win Over Sudan

Senegal Defeats Sudan 3-1

Pape Gueye scored twice, and young Ibrahim Mbaye secured the victory with a goal just four minutes after being introduced during the match held in Tangier, in the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) knockout stage.

Despite a stunning start with a goal from Aamir Abdallah for Sudan in the sixth minute, Senegal quickly responded to lead 2-1 at halftime, thanks to Gueye's efforts. In the 77th minute, Mbaye sealed the match, bringing the score to 3-1.

Former champions Senegal will face Mali or Tunisia in the quarterfinals, who are scheduled to play later in Casablanca. This anticipated victory comes as Senegal sits 99 places above Sudan in the world rankings, a country ravaged by civil war since April 2023.

In the match, Senegal made six changes from the team that started their last group match, with captain Kalidou Koulibaly absent due to suspension. Sudanese coach Kwesi Appiah retained only one player from the team that lost to Burkina Faso, with the top performance coming from forward Abdallah.

Senegal achieved their first victory against Sudan in an AFCON tournament, having previously faced each other in the qualification group for the 2026 World Cup, where Senegal won at home and drew away.

Despite not scoring in three group matches, Sudan qualified for the knockout stage as one of the best four third-placed teams. A brave save from goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid denied a significant opportunity for Senegal, but Senegal quickly equalized through Gueye, who scored with a precise shot after an assist from Sadio Mane.

Throughout the match, Senegal continuously attacked but saw several chances denied by VAR decisions. Nevertheless, Gueye managed to score again before halftime, and Mbaye confirmed the victory in the second half. This marks a promising start for Senegal in this year's competition.