AFCON 2025: Sudan hopeful of overcoming Senegal to ‘go far’ – Kwesi Appiah

Sudan head coach Kwesi Appiah has expressed strong belief in his side’s ability to overcome 2021 champions Senegal as the Falcons of Jediane prepare for a high-stakes Round of 16 clash at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ahead of Saturday’s knockout fixture in Morocco, Appiah said Sudan are aiming to go deep into the tournament, insisting his players are motivated by confidence rather than intimidated by the scale of the challenge posed by one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses.

“Sudan deserves to go far in the AFCON, and our ultimate goal remains to chase for the AFCON title,” Appiah said, underlining the ambition within the camp.

“We have respect for Senegal, they are a big footballing country in Africa, they are the former champions, but we are ready,” he added.

Sudan’s presence in the last 16 already represents a significant achievement. The Falcons of Jediane advanced as one of the best third-placed teams in Group E, sealing qualification with a crucial 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea.

That victory was only Sudan’s second at the Africa Cup of Nations since 1970, highlighting the scale of their progress at this year’s tournament.

Their AFCON journey has unfolded against an extraordinary backdrop. Ongoing civil conflict at home has forced Sudan to play all their “home” matches on neutral ground, making their competitive resilience even more notable.

Despite these challenges, Appiah has overseen steady growth since taking charge, with recent results providing tangible evidence of improvement.

That upward trajectory was also visible in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Sudan initially topped Group B ahead of heavyweights Senegal and DR Congo.

A disciplined 0-0 draw against Senegal in March 2025 reinforced belief within the squad, even though a later 2-0 defeat in September underlined the size of the task they now face.