Senegal came from a goal down to defeat Sudan 3-1 in the first round of 16 fixture at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Afrosport reports.
The Teranga Lions made it to the knockout phase for the fifth AFCON in a row after topping Group D ahead of DR Congo, Benin and Botswana, while the Falcons of Jediane qualified as one of the best third-placed teams and were back at this stage for the first time since 2012.
The 1970 champions were surprisingly in front after just six minutes at Stade Ibn Batouta in Tanger after Aamir Abdallah sent in a curled effort into the far corner of the net.
Kwesi Appiah’s men remained in the lead until the 29th minute when Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye levelled for Senegal off a Sadio Mane assist.
Gueye made it 2-1 in added time of the first half after he was nicely set up by Bayern Munich star Nicolas Jackson.
Mane registered his second assist of the game and his third of the tournament, this time for Paris Saint-Germain teenager Ibrahim Mbaye in the 77th minute.
Quarter-finals | Spot 1. 🇸🇳
Senegal advance to the next round of the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/BkG2rgWtKU
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 3, 2026
The victory sent Senegal to the AFCON quarter-finals for the fourth time in the last five editions and will face the winner of Saturday’s other fixture between Mali and Tunisia.
