Group A of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has been settled early, with Senegal’s 1-0 win away to Sudan at the Khartoum Stadium seeing them join Madagascar in securing a berth at next year’s finals.
The Teranga Lions had crushed the Falcons of Jediane 3-0 in Dakar on Saturday and completing a ‘double’ with victory in North-East Africa has ensured they will head to Cameroon next year for a 15th appearance at the Afcon finals.
The result took Senegal back to the top of Group A with 10 points – they are level with Madagascar, and both teams qualify for Afcon 2019 with two rounds of group stage matches to spare.
Despite the victory, the match was still a frustrating one for Senegal, as Aliou Cisse’s charges were unable to find their attacking rhythm.
However, just when it seemed as if the game was destined to end in a goalless stalemate, substitute Sidy Sarr popped up in the 87th minute with a superb header to break the deadlock and secure victory.
The teams will return to Afcon preliminary action next month, with Senegal away to Equatorial Guinea and Sudan visiting first-time qualifiers Madagascar.
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