Sudan head coach Kwesi Appiah has made it clear that his team’s ambitions at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations extend far beyond participation, declaring the Falcons of Jediane are aiming for the title.
Following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Algeria in their opening Group E match, Sudan bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on Sunday night in Casablanca.
The breakthrough came in the 74th minute amid a scramble in the Equatorial Guinea penalty area.
A powerful Sudanese delivery forced defender Saul Coco into a clearance that deflected into his own net, sparking celebrations for Sudan, who claimed their first AFCON win in over a decade.
After the game, Appiah praised his squad while emphasizing that this victory is just one step toward a larger goal.
“I am happy with the win, but our ambition is to win the title, not just to achieve a single victory. We have experienced players, and their performance was strong,” the Ghanaian gaffer said after the game.”
He acknowledged the challenges his team faced but highlighted their resilience and quality throughout the match.
“We faced some difficulties, but we always try to show good quality in our matches to achieve victories. I thank everyone who supported us in this match, especially the fans.”
Sudan now turns its focus to a decisive final group match against Burkina Faso on New Year’s Eve at the Mohammed V Stadium, with a place in the Round of 16 on the line.
Appiah stressed that while progression from the group is the immediate goal, the ultimate objective remains ambitious.
“When you take part in any tournament, the main ambition is to get through the group stage and go as far as possible. We achieved what mattered most, and we are mindful of these objectives of reaching the furthest stage possible. We are not here to just participate,” he added.
Kick-off is set for 16:00 GMT.
