Senegal moved to the top of Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying Group J after recovering from a competitive first half to beat Sudan 4-1 at home on Thursday, 12 November 2026.

The result came in the third round of qualifying and gave Senegal an important boost in their campaign. The Lions of Teranga now have seven points and sit alone in first place after three matches.

Sudan arrived determined to take something from the game and made life difficult for the hosts from the outset. Both sides exchanged attacks during an evenly matched opening 45 minutes, with neither able to establish control.

The teams went into half-time level at 1-1, a scoreline that reflected the balance of the contest and suggested Senegal would face another demanding period after the break.

Senegal, however, returned from half-time with greater purpose. Patrick Vieira’s side became more assertive in possession and more effective when chances came in the final third, gradually taking control of the match.

That improvement was reflected on the scoreboard as Senegal added three goals in the second half. The hosts opened up a decisive gap and kept Sudan at a safe distance to complete a three-goal victory.

The response after the interval was a convincing demonstration of Senegal’s ability to raise their performance during the match. It also strengthened their position in the race to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.

With the qualifying campaign still at an early stage, Senegal’s seven-point total leaves them in sole possession of first place in Group J. Their 4-1 success represents a strong return from the third matchday, while Sudan were unable to secure the positive result they had been seeking.