World Cup qualifiers: Senegal to face Sudan at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium as Senghor venue awaits approval

Senegal’s World Cup qualifying clash against Sudan will be staged at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio on 4 September, the Senegalese Football Federation has confirmed.

The Group stage encounter, scheduled for a 19:00 kick-off, is a decisive fixture with both sides locked on 12 points.

Sudan sit second and Senegal third in the table, trailing leaders the Democratic Republic of Congo, who hold 13 points.

Only the team finishing top of the group will secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The decision to host the game at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium comes despite calls from fans for the Lions of Teranga to return to the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium in Dakar.

The historic ground, which reopened in April after major renovations, has yet to complete its full approval process, leaving it ineligible to stage international matches.

Supporters had hoped to see their national team play once more at the iconic Dakar venue, which has long been a symbol of Senegalese football.

However, with formal clearance still pending, the federation had little option but to turn again to the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium.

Built to meet international standards, the state-of-the-art arena will provide the setting for what is effectively Senegal’s first final in their qualification campaign.

For coach Aliou Cissé and his players, the stakes are high.

A win against Sudan would put Senegal in a stronger position ahead of their next crucial test — a difficult away trip to Kinshasa to face the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Anything less than victory in Diamniadio risks leaving the Lions in a precarious position with just a handful of matches left to play.

The Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, regularly used by the national team since its inauguration, has already staged several high-profile fixtures and offers modern facilities and a capacity capable of accommodating the passionate Senegalese support.

While the wait continues for the official green light at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium, the focus for Senegal remains firmly on the pitch.

With the group finely balanced, the encounter with Sudan could prove decisive in shaping the outcome of the qualification race.

For the Lions, the path to North America 2026 now runs through Diamniadio, where a victory could propel them back to the summit of their group and keep alive their hopes of securing a place at world football’s biggest stage.