Sudan’s national football team continued their remarkable 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign by securing a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Senegal on neutral ground despite the challenges of ongoing civil conflict.
The match, played in Benina, Libya, saw Sadio Mane come closest to breaking the deadlock late on.
The Al-Nassr forward attempted a delicate chip, but Sudanese goalkeeper Mohamed Mostafa produced a crucial save before a defender cleared his follow-up effort off the line.
Moments later, Mostafa pulled off another heroic stop, diving low to deny a powerful header from Cherif Ndiaye.
Sudan also had their chances to claim victory, with Walieldin Khedr narrowly missing the target in the second half.
Their resilience has been rewarded, as they now sit atop Group B with a slender one-point lead over DR Congo, while Senegal trails just behind.
With only the group winners securing direct qualification to the expanded 48-team World Cup, competition remains fierce.
The top four runners-up across all nine groups will enter a play-off round, battling for a spot in an intercontinental tournament that will determine the final qualifiers.
Elsewhere in Group B, Togo and Mauritania played out an exciting 2-2 draw in Lome.
The action resumes on Tuesday, with Sudan facing South Sudan, Senegal hosting Togo, and DR Congo traveling to Mauritania.
The final four rounds of fixtures are set to take place in September and October.
A Dream Takes Shape for Sudan
Almost two years into the country’s civil war, Sudanese football remains a beacon of hope. With the nation’s top clubs now based in Mauritania, coach James Kwesi Appiah has instilled belief in the team, guiding them to an unexpected Africa Cup of Nations qualification for 2025, an achievement that saw them eliminate four-time champions Ghana.
Their World Cup dream, however, almost suffered an early setback in this match, as goalkeeper Mostafa’s failed clearance in the opening moments nearly gifted Boulaye Dia a goal.
Fortunately for Sudan, Mostafa scrambled to recover before Dia could capitalize.
Despite facing a team ranked 96 places above them, Sudan remained composed. Aboubaker Eisa had an opportunity to put them ahead in the 20th minute but failed to convert, while Dia later sent a header off target for Senegal.
The second half saw more drama, with Sudanese midfielder Abdel Raouf forcing Edouard Mendy into a save before having his penalty claims dismissed after a collision with the keeper.
Meanwhile, Mane came close with an overhead kick and was denied twice in the final 10 minutes.
Though Senegal remains unbeaten in Group B after five matches, their two wins may not be enough to secure automatic qualification.
With more games ahead, the race for a place at the 2026 World Cup remains wide open.
