Mane and Lions of Teranga fire blanks as Sudan keep their WC dream alive
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 23.03.25. | 01:07
A goalless draw puts the favourites in a delicate position, while the underdogs are getting much closer to the 2026 World Cup
If anyone told you that Senegal would be fighting for their lives after five games of the World Cup qualifiers and that Sudan would be at the summit of Group B, you'd probably think of it as a good joke.
Alas, life (and football) tend to provide some serious surprises, like today's, which resulted in a goalless draw in the clash between those two national teams at Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, Libya.
🇸🇩 Sudan have drawn 0-0 with Senegal and remain top of their World Cup qualification group.
— The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) March 22, 2025
It's a sensational achievement for a nation wracked by civil war to be on course for its first ever World Cup finals.
Sudan's two top club sides Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh are playing in… pic.twitter.com/2iTGrCZbGS
Sadio Mane and the Lions of Teranga were pushing for the win that would allow them to leapfrog Sudan at the top, but 0-0 means they will stay two points below the Falcons of Jediane.
While the hosts were eager to snatch a point that would keep their World Cup dream alive, the visitors were determined to grab a critical away win. That desire, however, didn't turn out to be enough in this evenly-matched battle.
After an intensive start to the game, it got stuck in the midfield, with both lots being just too slow and unable to create any serious danger in the rival's area.
Mane and Ismaila Sarr were close to scoring, though, but Sudan's keeper, Mustafa, appeared to have a perfect day in the office, stopping all of their efforts.
On the other end, Edouard Mendy didn't have that much work, although he did stop Omar's back-to-back shots after the break.
With the match approaching the end, Senegal put on significant pressure, but not even Mane again and Kalidou Koulibaly could find the back of the net.
Interestingly, the hosts had the ultimate chance to change the score, as the ball hit the crossbar following Agab's corner, and it stayed 0-0.
⏰ 90’ | #WCQ2026 🚨🌍
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) March 22, 2025
Sudan missed this chance to score and take the lead. 👀
Sudan 🇸🇩 0-0 Senegal 🇸🇳 #WorldCupwithMicky#AfricanFootball pic.twitter.com/Ao9Nsf35kZ
In the other game of the day, Togo and Mauritania shared spoils in an exciting four-goal skirmish, 2-2.
2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - AFRICA
Round 5
Saturday
Togo - Mauritania 2-2 (1-0)
/Klidje 4, Denkey 69 - Koita 52, Mahmoud 55/
Sudan - Senegal 0-0
Sunday
16.00: (1.90) Eswatini (3.35) Mauritius (4.40)
16.00: (2.55) Kenya (3.05) Gabon (3.00)
Monday
16.00: (2.95) Namibia (3.20) Equatorial Guinea (2.50)
19.00: (10.0) Cental African Republic (4.80) Mali (1.35)
19.00: (2.85) Guinea B. (2.85) Burkina Faso (2.85)
19.00: (1.30) Liberia (5.00) Sao Tome (12.0)
22.00: (1.37) Ivory Coast (4.80) Gambia (9.00)
22.00: (4.50) Madagascar (3.45) Ghana (1.85)
00.00: (1.37) Ethiopia (4.50) Djibouti (10.0)
00.00: (1.23) Tunisia (6.25) Malawi (13.0)
***odds are subject to changes***
