Sudan captain Mohamed Abdelrahman says a sense of pride and responsibility is fuelling the Falcons of Jediane after they secured a place in the knockout stage of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
Former champions in 1970, Sudan progressed to the round of 16 as one of the best-ranked third-placed teams, returning to the knockout rounds for the first time since 2012. For Abdelrahman, the achievement carries significance far beyond the pitch, offering a rare moment of joy to Sudanese people amid the ongoing conflict at home.
Progressing from the group stage, he explained, was a clear target set before the tournament began, and one the players were determined to deliver.
“Qualifying was a strategic objective for us before the start of this edition, and thank God we managed to achieve it,” Abdelrahman told CAF. “It was a big and necessary step.”
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The Sudan skipper spoke of the emotional response from supporters, both in Morocco and back home, describing football as a unifying force during difficult times.
“We feel proud and happy because we were able to bring joy to the Sudanese people,” he added. “Sudanese fans everywhere are following the team with passion despite the war. Our people love football, and under the current circumstances it has become one of the few sources of happiness.”
Attention now turns to a daunting round-of-16 meeting with former champions Senegal, a challenge Abdelrahman admits will demand everything from his side. Yet he insists Sudan will stick to their step-by-step approach.
“We are dealing with this tournament one stage at a time,” he said. “Our objective now is to reach the next round despite the fierce competition expected against Senegal. We want to prove our worth, and we have pledged to give everything, with success coming from God.”
Senegal’s pedigree is not lost on the Sudan captain, but belief and determination, he says, will define his team’s response.
“It will be a very difficult match by all standards,” Abdelrahman said. “Senegal are a strong and experienced team with a rich history in this competition. The key will be our determination, perseverance, belief in ourselves and our desire to go far in the tournament.”
Reflecting on Sudan’s return to the AFCON knockout stage after more than a decade, Abdelrahman credited unity and collective effort within the squad, while reserving special praise for the fans whose support has followed the team across borders.
“We thank the fans who have continuously provided us with moral support,” he said. “We are truly grateful to them and promise to give even more in the upcoming challenges to honour our country.”
As Sudan prepare for their biggest test yet in Morocco, Abdelrahman’s words underline a team driven not only by ambition, but by a powerful sense of national purpose.
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