Senegal delivered an emphatic statement of intent in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, coming from a frustrating first-half finish to thrash Sudan 4-1 at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar.
The Lions of Teranga produced a dominant second-half performance to secure all three points, with goals from Boulaye Dia, Ibrahim Mbaye and substitute Pathé Mboup complementing Nicolas Jackson’s first-half opener.
The victory moves Senegal to seven points at the top of Group J, strengthening their position in the race for qualification to the continental showpiece.
Senegal started on the front foot, controlling possession and forcing Sudan, coached by Ghanaian tactician James Kwesi Appiah, into a defensive approach.
The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute when Iliman Ndiaye struck the woodwork, but their sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 31st minute.
Nicolas Jackson continued his impressive scoring form in the qualifiers, finding the back of the net to give Senegal a deserved 1-0 lead.
However, Sudan refused to surrender and delivered a timely response just before the interval. In the 45th minute, Walieldin Khidir set up Mohamed Abuaagla, who calmly finished to restore parity and send both sides into the break level at 1-1.
Senegal returned from the dressing room with renewed intensity and quickly reasserted their superiority.
The hosts regained the lead in the 61st minute when El Hadji Malick Diouf provided the assist for Boulaye Dia, who finished clinically to make it 2-1.
Three minutes later, Senegal struck again. Ndiaye turned provider, setting up Ibrahim Mbaye for the third goal in the 64th minute as the hosts opened up a commanding two-goal advantage.
Sudan struggled to contain Senegal’s attacking threat as the game progressed, with Mustafa Karshom and Ahmed Tabanja picking up yellow cards amid growing frustration.
The Lions of Teranga completed their impressive performance in the 86th minute when Pape Matar Sarr picked out substitute Pathé Mboup, who calmly converted to seal a comprehensive 4-1 victory.
Senegal’s dominance was reflected in the statistics, with the hosts enjoying 67 per cent possession compared to Sudan’s 33 per cent, underlining their control of proceedings.
The result takes Senegal to seven points at the summit of Group J, while Sudan remain on three points following a difficult evening in Dakar.
Attention now turns to the reverse fixture, with both nations scheduled to meet again on Monday, November 16, when Sudan host Senegal in the next round of qualifying matches.
For Senegal, the convincing victory provides another major boost to their AFCON 2027 qualification ambitions, while Appiah’s Sudan side will be hoping to produce a stronger response on home soil.
