AFCON 2025: Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane set for Senegal test in last 16

After a two-day breather, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship roars back into life on Saturday, 3 January, with fans treated to eight mouth-watering Round of 16 encounters as the tournament enters its decisive knockout phase.

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Kicking off the last-16 action will be one-time champions Senegal and Sudan, who face off at the Grand Stade de Tangier, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 PM.

With a place in the quarterfinals at stake, both nations head into the contest knowing that there is no room for error.

Saturday’s showdown marks the first-ever competitive AFCON meeting between Senegal and Sudan.

Despite their long footballing history, the two sides have never crossed paths at the continental finals, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the encounter.

Sudan’s qualification for the knockout stage is only their third appearance at AFCON, having previously featured in 1970, when they famously went on to lift the trophy, and 2012, ending a 13-year absence as they return to the knockout rounds this year.

For Senegal, this Round of 16 clash represents their fourth appearance at this stage, having previously featured in 2019 and 2021, where they claimed their maiden title, and 2023, underlining their growing pedigree on the continental stage.

Although this is their maiden AFCON finals meeting, the two nations have faced each other seven times across all competitions, including AFCON qualifiers, World Cup qualifiers, CHAN tournaments, and international friendlies.

Senegal holds a commanding historical advantage, recording four victories, while the remaining three matches ended in draws, with Sudan yet to secure a win over the West African giants.

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In their road to the round of 16 berth, Senegal stormed into the knockout rounds after finishing top of Group D with seven points, registering emphatic 3–0 victories over Benin and Botswana before sealing qualification with a 1–1 draw against DR Congo in a pulsating contest.

Sudan, meanwhile, progressed as one of the four best third-placed teams across the groups.

The Falcons of Jediane managed a single group-stage win, edging Equatorial Guinea 1–0, a result that proved decisive in securing their place in the last 16 from Group E.

Notably, Sudan are yet to score a goal from open play at the ongoing 35th AFCON edition, with their solitary victory coming courtesy of an own goal by Saúl Basilio Coco, who inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.

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Heading into Saturday’s encounter, Senegal will be targeting a smooth passage into the quarterfinals as they look to assert their dominance and maintain their title ambitions as they surge for their second title four years apart.

The Lions of Teranga, under coach Pape Thiaw, are expected to rely heavily on their experienced foreign-based contingent.

Sudan head coach James Kwesi Appiah will also be banking on his trusted core to engineer a potential upset.

The former Ghana captain will look to the leadership of captain Bakhit Khamis Muhamed Nemira, shot-stopper Muhamed Mustafa Muhamed Ahmed, midfielders Abuaagla Abdallah Muhamed Ahmed and Walieldin Khidir, striker Mohamed Abdelrahman, and defender Ammar Taifour to challenge Senegal’s superiority and cause an early knockout stage upset.

With the clash a do-or-die affair, only victory guarantees progression to the quarterfinals.

Senegal will be keen to extend their historical dominance, while Sudan aims to end their long-standing jinx and reignite memories of their 1970 triumph as they chase a second AFCON crown in over five decades.