Senegal vs Sudan prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations – Play Offs betting tips on match 2026-01-02 16:00.
[p]The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last 16 kicks off with a clash between Group D winners Senegal and a Sudan side who snuck in as one of the four best third-placed finishers.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]A pair of comfortable 3-0 wins in the group stage carried Senegal to the top of Group D, as goal difference ensured they finished clear of D.R. Congo. Their win over Benin on matchday three set them up an easier tie on paper with a third-placed side, but they certainly won’t be getting carried away after they were knocked out at this exact stage by the worst-ranked third-placed finisher at the last AFCON. Senegal will be quick to point out that Ivory Coast were the host nation and went on to win the entire tournament, and with Sudan certainly a much less revered opponent, building upon a run of eight wins from their last ten matches (D1, L1) seems highly probable.[/p]
[p]Just a single win was enough to ensure Sudan progressed to the AFCON knockouts for only the second time since they won the tournament in 1970. Sudan lost their other two group games, including against Burkina Faso on Wednesday (2-0), which served as their fourth defeat from their last five matches (W1). That five-game streak serves as a small part of a wider negative run for Sudan, who have won just two of their last 15 games (D3, L10), and with their only prior knockout game at AFCON in the last 50 years ending in a heavy 3-0 defeat at the first hurdle, there are few positive omens for them to cling to.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Senegal have never lost a H2H against Sudan (W5, D2). That includes four meetings in 2025 (W2, D2), across which Sudan scored just one goal – the only H2H goal they’ve ever managed.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Only one of Senegal’s last seven games saw both teams score. [/p]
[p]The second half has been the highest-scoring half in eight of Senegal’s last ten AFCON finals games. [/p]
[p]Just two of Sudan’s last 13 matches saw both teams score. [/p]
[p]Sudan’s last five games all saw at least one goal scored after the 70th minute. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Senegal’s Cherif Ndiaye has closed the scoring with all four of his senior international goals, including two at this tournament so far. Mohamed Tia Asad is the only Sudanese player to ever score against Senegal, but he’s got more yellow cards for his country (2) than he has goals scored (1). [/p]
[p]Senegal will be without Kalidou Koulibaly after his red card against Benin, while Sudan’s Salaheldin Alhassan is a doubt after picking up a knock against Burkina Faso.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given the ease at which Senegal have been winning games against inferior opposition, we’re backing them to win by a -1 handicap.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Chris Wilson[/i][/p]