Senegal produced a composed second-half display to secure a 3–1 victory over Sudan in the Round of 16 clash at the Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier, booking their place in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The Teranga Lions were stunned early in the contest as Sudan took a surprise lead in the 6th minute. Aamir Abdallah capitalised on a moment of hesitation at the back to slot home and give the underdogs a dream starts, briefly silencing the Senegalese support.
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Senegal responded with patience and growing authority, gradually taking control of possession and territory. Their pressure paid off in the 29th minute, when Pape Gueye restored parity with a well-taken finish, bringing the defending champions back into the game.
As halftime approached, Senegal continued to press and were rewarded deep into first-half stoppage time. Once again, it was Pape Gueye who delivered, striking in the 45+3rd minute to complete his brace and turn the match on its head, sending Senegal into the break with a 2–1 advantage.
Sudan attempted to regroup after the interval and showed moments of resilience, but Senegal’s experience and tactical discipline proved decisive. The champions managed the game effectively, limiting Sudan’s attacking threat while waiting for opportunities to strike on the break.
The decisive blow arrived in the 77th minute, when Ibrahim Mbaye finished off a swift counter-attack to make it 3–1, effectively sealing Senegal’s progression to the next round.
The result confirms Senegal’s place in the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the Mali vs Tunisia encounter. Despite Sudan’s brave performance and early breakthrough, Senegal’s quality and composure under pressure once again highlighted why they remain strong contenders to retain their continental crown.
As the knockout stage intensifies, the Teranga Lions will look to build on this momentum as they edge closer to another deep run in the competition.
