Senegal became the first country to head to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 victory over Sudan at the Grand Stade de Tanger on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
The match delivered early drama when Aamir Abdallah Yunis put the Sudanese Falcons ahead in the 8th minute with a clinical finish that beat the Senegalese goalkeeper. However, the Teranga Lions responded with Pape Gueye’s equaliser in the 30th minute following a period of sustained pressure.
The turning point of the Round of 16 encounter arrived just before the halftime break, as Pape Gueye struck again deep into stoppage time to complete Senegal’s comeback. Holding a 2-1 lead into the second half, the home side continued to control the tempo while Sudan struggled to capitalize on their limited counter-attacking opportunities. The victory was eventually secured in the 82nd minute when Ibrahim Mbaye scored from inside the box, effectively ending Sudan’s hopes of an upset.
Okay News reports that despite several injury stoppages and a total of fourteen minutes of added time across both halves, Senegal remained composed to see out the result. The win confirms Senegal’s status as a major contender for the title as they prepare for the next phase of the tournament.
Sudan exits the competition having pushed the favorites for much of the first half, while Senegal looks forward to their quarterfinal matchup.
