Sudan head coach Kwesi Appiah has commended his players for their commitment and fighting spirit despite their exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Falcons of Jediane bowed out of the tournament following a 3–1 defeat to defending champions Senegal in Saturday’s Round of 16 encounter at the Tangier Grand Stadium.
Sudan stunned their opponents early on when Aamir Abdallah struck to hand them a surprise lead, but Senegal quickly asserted their dominance.
Idrissa Gueye scored twice to turn the game around before substitute Ibrahima Mbaye put the result beyond doubt late in the contest.
Reflecting on the loss, Appiah admitted his disappointment but insisted he was proud of his team’s overall performance at the tournament.
“Of course, I am disappointed with the result of the game, but proud of the effort of my players throughout this competition,” Appiah said.
“We played against a very experienced Senegal team, but we showed our quality.”
He added that his players had done their country proud despite the elimination.
“Despite the result tonight, I am sure the Sudanese people know that we came to this competition and proudly represented them,” he added.
Senegal will now turn their attention to a quarterfinal showdown against Mali on Friday, January 9, with the tie scheduled to take place once again at the Tangier Grand Stadium.
