Sudan head coach Kwesi Appiah has expressed deep respect for former champions Senegal ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 clash, while boldly insisting his side are ready to compete and dream big.
The Ghanaian tactician has overseen one of the tournament’s most compelling stories, guiding Sudan to the knockout stage against the odds. Their place in the last 16 was sealed with a gritty 1–0 victory over Equatorial Guinea ; Sudan’s first AFCON win in 13 years underlining their tactical discipline and growing belief.
“We have respect for Senegal. They are a big footballing country in Africa and former champions, but we are ready,” Appiah said. “Sudan deserves to go far in this AFCON, and our ultimate goal is to chase the AFCON title.”
Facing a Senegal side led by global star Sadio Mané, Appiah acknowledged the scale of the challenge but stressed that Sudan’s ambition remains undimmed.
Ranked 117th in the world and operating under difficult circumstances due to the ongoing civil war back home, Sudan have shown remarkable unity and resilience throughout the tournament.
