Former champions Senegal were forced to dig deep before sealing a 3-1 comeback win over Sudan on Saturday night to book their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
Played in Tangier, the Round of 16 clash began with a shock as Sudan stunned the defending champions inside six minutes. Aamir Abdallah crowned a swift counter-attack with a superb curling finish, briefly sending the Sudanese bench into dreamland.
Senegal, however, showed their pedigree and experience, refusing to panic despite the early setback. Their response was led by midfielder Pape Gueye, who emerged as the decisive figure on the night with a well-taken brace.
The equaliser arrived in the 29th minute after captain Sadio Mané won possession in midfield and quickly released Gueye, who kept his composure to slot home a low effort past the Sudan goalkeeper. The goal shifted momentum firmly in Senegal’s favour.
With pressure mounting, the Lions of Teranga completed the turnaround in first-half stoppage time. Nicolas Jackson’s cut-back found Gueye inside the area, and the midfielder curled a precise finish into the corner to make it 2-1 heading into the break.
Sudan attempted to claw their way back early in the second half and came close when Sheddy Barglan was denied by a sharp reflex save from Edouard Mendy. That chance proved to be their last real opening.
From then on, Senegal asserted control, managing the tempo and limiting Sudan’s attacking threat. The victory was sealed in the 77th minute when substitute Ibrahima Mbaye powered home from close range, once again following a clever assist from Mané.
Beyond the result, the match was historic for Senegal’s talismanic captain. Mané’s two assists took his AFCON tally to nine, moving him clear at the top of the tournament’s all-time assists chart, ahead of Côte d’Ivoire legend Yaya Touré.
Gueye, named TotalEnergies Man of the Match, praised the team’s response after conceding early.
“We showed character after going 1-0 down,” he said. “It was not easy, but we stayed united and focused. Now we are in the quarter-finals, and we know it will be even tougher.”
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw also lauded his players’ resilience while acknowledging Sudan’s challenge.
“Sudan are a disciplined side and they proved they deserved to be here,” Thiaw said. “We had to dig deep to come back, and I am proud of how the players responded. We will now work on correcting our mistakes as we prepare for the next match.”
Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah, despite the elimination, expressed pride in his squad.
“I am disappointed with the result, but very proud of my players,” Appiah said. “We competed against a very experienced team and represented Sudan with pride.”
Senegal will now turn their focus to the quarter-finals, where sterner tests await as they continue their bid to reclaim the continental crown.
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