Sudan head coach James Kwesi Appiah has vowed that his side will raise their level of performance ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Ghanaian tactician gave the assurance following Sudan’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Madagascar in the semifinals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The competition, reserved for home-based players across the continent, saw Sudan defy expectations by advancing to the last four. They will now face Senegal on Friday, August 29, in the bronze medal match.
Appiah, who guided Sudan to AFCON qualification at the expense of his native Ghana, said the CHAN campaign provided valuable lessons and a platform to build on for the senior national team.
“This tournament gave us, first and foremost, an opportunity to win matches and compete. We have four players in the senior team who will join us in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations,” Appiah told CAF after the loss.
He stressed that the focus is now on improving consistency and confidence.
“We will work to ward off the specter of defeat and improve our performance in the future,” the coach added.
Meanwhile, Madagascar’s victory has set up a CHAN final showdown with Morocco, scheduled for Saturday, August 30, at 15:00 GMT.