Sudan captain Mohamed Abdelrahman has acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing his side against Senegal but insists the Falcons of Jediane are ready to rise to the occasion.
Sudan, who progressed to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without scoring a goal, take on Senegal in a Round of 16 encounter at the Tangier Grand Stadium later today. Kick-off is set for 16:00 GMT.
The Falcons advanced as one of the best third-placed teams after managing just one win from three group matches. Speaking to CAF Media ahead of the fixture, Abdelrahman admitted the difficulty of the task but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to spring a surprise.
“It will be a very difficult match by all standards. We know our opponent well. Senegal are a strong and experienced team with a rich history in the competition,” he said.
“The key to victory is our determination, perseverance, belief in ourselves and our desire to go far in this tournament,” Abdelrahman added.
Sudan began their campaign with a loss to Algeria, bounced back with a victory over Equatorial Guinea, and then fell to Burkina Faso in their final group game to secure a place in the last 16.
The qualification marks Sudan’s first appearance in the AFCON knockout stage since 2012, underlining the significance of their achievement despite the odds stacked against them.
