Senegal vs Sudan Prediction 03.01.2026 | Africa Cup of Nations

The 2021 African champions, Senegal, carried an almost flawless run through the AFCON 2025 group stage, comfortably topping Group D with two commanding 3-0 victories over Botswana and Benin, alongside a 1-1 draw with DR Congo.

Under the astute guidance of head coach Pape Thiaw, who succeeded long-serving Aliou Cisse at the close of 2024, the Teranga Lions have struck an impressive balance between attacking firepower and defensive solidity, keeping seven clean sheets in nine competitive fixtures under the 44-year-old’s leadership.

Heading into the knockout rounds, Senegal are firmly among the favorites to lift the trophy, buoyed by their current form. Their only setback in the past ten matches across all competitions was a 2-0 defeat to a strong Brazil side in a November friendly, highlighting their remarkable consistency (W8 D1).

However, Thiaw will have to navigate the knockout stage without right-back Ilay Camara and forward Assane Diao due to injuries, while defensive stalwart and captain Kalidou Koulibaly serves a suspension, leaving the Teranga Lions’ backline slightly weakened.

Under the astute guidance of Ghanaian tactician James Kwesi Appiah, Sudan have emerged as one of the tournament’s most captivating stories, overcoming significant off-field challenges to reach the AFCON knockout stages for the first time since 2012.

The Falcons of Jediane secured progression to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams in Group E — a remarkable achievement for a nation grappling with civil unrest that has forced them to play their home fixtures on neutral ground.

Sudan’s advancement has relied more on luck and a solid defensive foundation than attacking flair, with a crucial 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea — courtesy of an own goal — proving sufficient, while they suffered 2-0 defeats to Algeria and Burkina Faso.

With no injury concerns, key players such as forward Mohamed Abdulrahman and midfielder Walieldin Khidir will need to deliver their best performances if Sudan are to breach Senegal’s formidable defense and pull off a potential upset.