Senegal will lock horns with Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations round-of-16 clash at the Tangier Grand Stadium on Saturday.
The Teranga Lions finished top of Group D with seven points, while Sudan finished third in Group E with three points.
Match preview
Senegal headed into the tournament as one of the favourites and performed well in the group stage.
Pape Thiaw’s side began their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Botswana, but were held to a draw by DR Congo before beating Benin.
Senegal ranked first for big chances created and second for goals scored. They were also defensively astute, conceding just once, the joint-fewest in the tournament.
Sudan lost 3-0 to Algeria in their first match, but bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea, only to lose 2-0 to Burkina Faso in their last group game.
Unless there is a massive improvement at both ends of the pitch, Sudan are likely to exit the tournament at this stage.
Head-to-head
Both sides have never met at AFCON but have faced each other six times previously, with Senegal winning four and drawing two.
Team news
Senegal and Sudan have no injury concerns. The former will be without centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly due to suspension, following his red card against Benin.
Predicted line-ups
Senegal (4-2-3-1): Edouard Mendy, Krepin Diatta, Abdoulaye Seck, Moussa Niakhate, Ismail Jakobs, Pape Gueye, Idrissa Gueye, Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson.
Sudan (4-4-1-1): Monged El Neel, Yaser Awad, Mohamed Ering, Mustafa Karshoum, Bakhit Khamis, Salah Adil, Abuaagla Abdalla, Ammar Taifour, Abo Eisa, Abdel Raouf, Mohamed Eisa.
Prediction
We expect Senegal to triumph 3-0.
Stats from transfermarkt.com & sofascore.com.
