Sudan continued its remarkable performance in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by securing a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Senegal. Despite the ongoing civil war in Sudan, the national team remained resilient and put on an impressive display on neutral ground in Benina, Libya. Senegal’s star forward, Sadio Mane, had the best chance to break the deadlock in the final moments of the game. However, Sudan’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Mostafa, denied Mane’s attempted chip before a defender cleared his follow-up effort off the line. Mostafa further demonstrated his brilliance with an outstanding save to block a powerful header from Cherif Ndiaye. Meanwhile, Sudan also had opportunities to claim all three points, with Walieldin Khedr coming close as his shot narrowly missed the target in the second half. With this result, Sudan now leads Group B with a one-point advantage over DR Congo, while Senegal trails closely behind. In this qualification format, only the top team in each group secures automatic qualification for the expanded 48-team tournament, while four of the best runners-up across the nine groups will battle in a play-off to earn a spot in an intercontinental tournament for the remaining qualification slots.
Elsewhere in Group B, Togo and Mauritania played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in Lome. The match saw Togo take an early lead when Thibault Klidje found the net in the fourth minute, but Mauritania responded with relentless attacks. Just before halftime, Aboubakary Koita struck the post in an attempt to level the score. The game intensified in the second half when Mauritania finally found the equalizer through Koita’s spectacular curling shot. Moments later, Abdallahi Mahmoud completed the comeback by tapping in a low cross from Sidi Bouna Amar. However, Togo was not ready to back down, and Kevin Denkey capitalized on a defensive error to restore parity in the 69th minute. Both teams had chances to snatch victory, with Mauritania’s Pape Yade hitting the post after intercepting a poor clearance from Togo’s goalkeeper, Malcolm Barcoa. Similarly, Togo’s substitute, Kwame Mawuena, came close with a header that narrowly missed the target. With this result, both teams remain in contention as the group stage progresses, with crucial matches lined up in the coming weeks.
Sudan’s strong performance against Senegal marks a significant achievement for the war-torn nation, as the team has already defied expectations by qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Sudan, currently managed by Ghanaian coach James Kwesi Appiah, has rejuvenated its football ambitions, reigniting hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time in its history. The team had a shaky start in their match against Senegal when goalkeeper Mostafa nearly gifted an early goal by misjudging a clearance. However, he managed to recover in time, preventing an easy finish for Boulaye Dia. Sudan continued to pose a threat despite facing a team ranked significantly higher in FIFA rankings. Aboubaker Eisa had a golden opportunity to put Sudan ahead in the first half but failed to convert, while Mane and his teammates struggled to break through Sudan’s solid defensive structure. With just five games played, Senegal remains unbeaten but must improve its performances in the remaining fixtures to keep its hopes alive for a third consecutive World Cup appearance. Meanwhile, Sudan, brimming with confidence, is determined to maintain its momentum when they face South Sudan in their next match.
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