Sudan’s elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was shaped less by a lack of effort and more by missed moments and the sheer quality of the opposition, according to the team’s own assessment after the 3–1 defeat to Senegal in Tangier.
While the Falcons of Jediane exited at the round of 16, their players were clear in outlining where the game turned and why the contest ultimately slipped away.
Amer Abdullah, who gave Sudan a dream start with an early goal, framed the loss within the context of facing elite opposition.
He pointed to Senegal’s experience and pedigree, stressing that their squad depth and individual quality were decisive over 90 minutes.
“Senegal’s squad includes players of very high quality who compete in the strongest European leagues,” Abdullah said.
Crucially, Abdullah identified a missed opportunity in the first half as a defining moment. Sudan, briefly buoyed by their early lead, had a chance to restore parity after Senegal’s response but failed to capitalise.
“We missed a clear chance to score and change the course of the game in the first half, and we paid the price with a defeat that knocked us out of the tournament,” he admitted.
Shadi Ezzedine offered a similar reading of the match, describing the result as logical given Senegal’s standing in African football, while expressing personal regret.
“Everyone knows the Senegal national team is among the strongest in Africa. We fought hard and delivered a good performance, but I missed a chance to equalise and luck was not on my side,” he said.
Both players also addressed Sudan’s supporters directly, apologising for the exit and thanking fans who followed the team across Morocco.
