Sudan began their quest for a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a crucial 1-0 win over Niger on Wednesday afternoon.
Playing at the Juba Stadium, the hosts secured the three points with a second-half goal from Abu Bakr in their Group F opener of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The match was tightly contested, with both teams creating numerous opportunities in the first half. However, strong defending and sharp goalkeeping on both sides kept the score level going into halftime.
It wasn’t until the 51st minute when Sudan finally broke the deadlock. A lapse in concentration in Niger’s defense allowed Bakr to capitalize on a loose ball in the box, calmly slotting it past the goalkeeper to give Sudan the lead. The home crowd erupted as the team held on for a valuable win in a challenging group that also includes African football giants Ghana and Angola.
The victory temporarily propels Sudan to the top of Group F, with Ghana and Angola set to face off on Thursday. Niger, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to take on the Black Stars in Ghana on Monday, September 9, while Sudan travels to Luanda to face Angola in their next qualifier.
With this win, Sudan has sent a strong signal to their group rivals, proving they are ready to compete for a spot in AFCON 2025.
