Sudan captain Abdelrahman: “We were a reason for bringing joy to the Sudanese people”

Senegal are heavy favorites to progress in the opening match from the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but will face a highly motivated Sudan side on Saturday in Tangier, Morocco.

Round of 16 | Spot 13. 🇸🇩

Sudan qualify for the next round of the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/Ok9L739WFA

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 31, 2025

After qualifying for the knockout stages, Sudan can equal their best finish since the early days of the tournament. The Falcons reached the quarterfinal stage at the 2012 edition, the only time they previously progressed beyond the group stage since winning the 1970 edition as hosts.

But despite the absence of Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly due to suspension, East Africa’s lone remaining representative are severe underdogs and will need inspired performances from their star players including forward Mohamed Abdelrahman.

The Al Hilal Omdurman talisman, who continues to be the shining star for Sudanese football through his exploits for club and country, described the added motivation of representing his nation while it endures a long and devastating civil war in comments recorded by Radio Dabanga:

“Getting through the first stage of the Africa Cup of Nations finals was a strategic goal for us before embarking on this edition of the tournament, and thank God we succeeded in achieving it. It was a major and necessary step. We feel both proud and happy because we were a reason for bringing joy to the Sudanese people.

Sudanese people everywhere are following the national team’s progress with great enthusiasm, despite the ongoing war. The Sudanese people love this sport and consider it their only source of joy under the current circumstances.”

“We are dealing with this tournament in stages. Currently, we aim to advance to the next round, despite the fierce competition against the Senegalese national team, but we will strive to confirm our worthiness. We have pledged to do everything possible, and success comes from God.

The match will be difficult by all accounts, given our thorough knowledge of our opponent. Senegal is a strong and experienced team with a long history in the Africa Cup of Nations. The keys to victory are our determination, perseverance, self-confidence, and our desire to progress strongly in the tournament.”