Senegal vs Sudan: All the Way or Another RO16 Exit for the Lions of Teranga?
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga
Senegal Eyes Routine Win Over Sudan
According to the top online betting sites, Senegal has the lowest betting odds of any AFCON team to win their RO16 matchup. In truth, the Lions of Teranga boast a much stronger squad, featuring Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal) and Everton's Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye.
Senegal also sits at 19th in the FIFA rankings, miles above Sudan at 117th. The difference in quality is enormous, and that should reflect on the pitch on Saturday. Their senior teams already met twice over the past few months in the CAF WC qualifiers, with Senegal winning the latest September game 2-0, but only drawing the March game 0-0.
However, with no room for mistakes in a high-stakes knockout game, Senegal will go for the kill against the Falcons of Jediane. The Lions of Teranga are already coasting through the 2025/26 AFCON after winning two of three games, scoring seven goals, and only conceding one in their 1-1 draw to DR Congo.
Senegal should beat Sudan, but with such low winning odds, bettors will be hunting for other high-value markets. You can check out our expert's best pick in the Senegal vs Sudan prediction.
End of the Road for Sudan?
Sudan has had an even better campaign than expected. The least favourites in Group E have now made it to the RO16 after earning only three points, thanks to Saul Coco’s own goal that gave Sudan their only win.
However, the Falcons of Jediane wouldn't be so lucky against Senegal. Sudan players are yet to register a goal of their own, and are one of only three teams not to do so in this tournament. Sudan lost 3-0 to Algeria and 2-0 to Burkina on the last day, making it eight of their last nine senior team games without a win.
Sudan scored only one goal (an own goal) in that span, conceding 11 and losing six games. That blunt offence and notoriously porous defence must now find a way to survive Senegal's onslaught and net goals of their own.
Sudan’s best bet of qualifying might even be taking this game to penalties, where it all boils down to shooting efficiency and goalkeeper quality. But last time Sudan faced Senegal in the African Cup of Nations, it was back-to-back full-time defeats in Group A of the 2019 qualifiers, losing 4-0 on aggregate.
Senegal vs Sudan: Players to Watch For
All eyes will be on the Senegal side, as their Sudanese counterparts haven't had noteworthy performances. For The Lions of Teranga, national legend and player of the tournament in their 2021 AFCON title win, Sadio Mane, is continuing his blistering form for Al Nassr.
Mane assisted Habib Diallo in their 3-0 thrashing of Benin on the last day, and scored the equaliser that kept Senegal unbeaten in this tournament. He walked into the 2025/26 AFCON with five goals in his last three games and five goals and one assist in eight WC qualifier games.
Alongside him upfront is Bayern’s Nicolas Jackson, who scored the brace to secure Senegal's win against Botswana on the opening day. While Jackson’s numbers for his club are modest, he scored four goals and dropped two assists in his last five games for Senegal prior to this tournament.
As if dealing with that frontline wasn't bad enough for Sudan, they have to find ways to get past Edouard Mendy in the post. The former Chelsea man and current Al-Ahli keeper has kept the joint-most clean sheets (2) and conceded the fewest in their tournament (1).
Mendy is also the Saudi Pro League’s top-ranking keeper, after recording the most clean sheets (5) and the fewest goals conceded (10). For a Sudan team that still hasn't scored a goal of its own over the last nine senior team games, netting one here might require the 1970 AFCON winner to pull out a “game of the tournament” kind of performance.
