Sudan concluded its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-1 defeat to reigning champions Senegal in the round of sixteen. Despite the loss, the team provided a moment of early magic that belied its underdog status. Semi-professional striker Aamir Abdallah, who plays in Australia's second division, stunned the Senegalese side by curling a superb sixth-minute shot over goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to give Sudan a shocking lead.
Sudan concluded its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-1 defeat to reigning champions Senegal in the round of sixteen. Despite the loss, the team provided a moment of early magic that belied its underdog status. Semi-professional striker Aamir Abdallah, who plays in Australia's second division, stunned the Senegalese side by curling a superb sixth-minute shot over goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to give Sudan a shocking lead.
The Falcons of Jediane held onto their advantage against the highly ranked West African nation for much of the first half. Goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid was instrumental, making a series of brave saves to deny Senegal's attackers. His crucial stop against Nicolas Jackson in the 29th minute was immediately followed, however, by Senegal's equalizer from Pape Gueye. Despite relentless pressure, Sudan’s disciplined defense nearly reached halftime level, but conceded a second goal to Gueye in added time.
The match represented a significant challenge for Sudan, a nation ranked 99 places below Senegal and enduring a civil war. The team had advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best third-place finishers, despite not scoring a single goal from their own players in the group phase. Their performance in Tangiers demonstrated considerable resilience and quality against one of the continent's footballing powers.
Senegal eventually secured their victory with a third goal in the 77th minute from substitute Ibrahim Mbaye. Despite the final scoreline, Sudan's players competed with determination throughout. They survived several scares, including a rescinded penalty decision and a disallowed goal for offside, thanks to VAR interventions and continued effort from the entire squad.
After the match, Sudan's Ghanaian coach, Kwesi Appiah, expressed a mixture of disappointment and profound pride. He commended his players for their effort and quality against a far more experienced opponent, stating he was sure the Sudanese people recognized the team had represented them proudly at the tournament.
The sentiment was echoed by Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, who acknowledged that his team needed to "dig deep" to overcome a disciplined and deserving Sudanese side. Sudan's journey in the competition, marked by a historic knockout stage appearance and a fearless performance against the title-holders, concludes with a strong sense of honor earned through adversity.
