Group B of the CAF World Cup qualifiers is set to kick off with Sudan facing Togo at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium on Thursday evening.
Match Preview
Sudan, due to the ineligibility of Sudanese stadiums as per CAF standards, continues to play their home games in Libya. The Sudan Football Association has opted for this arrangement consistently over the past months.
Beginning their journey towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sudan aims for redemption after their unsuccessful African Cup of Nations qualification, finishing at the bottom of their group with two wins and four losses against DR Congo, Mauritania, and Gabon.
However, Sudan exhibited a glimpse of resurgence lately, avoiding defeat in their last two friendly matches. They secured a 1-1 draw against Tanzania and clinched a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Chad.
While automatic qualification might seem improbable for Sudan, with Senegal being the anticipated dominant force, the battle for the second spot, guaranteeing a playoff chance, appears wide open.
Similarly, Togo, despite missing out on the AFCON, finished their qualification campaign impressively.
The Sparrowhawks accumulated eight points, drawing twice and clinching victories in their final two qualifiers against Eswatini (2-0) and a remarkable comeback win over Cabo Verde (3-2), orchestrated by Kevin Denkey’s brace and Abdou Ouattara’s late winner.
With an ongoing winning streak of three matches and being unbeaten in their last four, including victories over Lesotho and Burkino Faso, Togo enters this World Cup qualifying match with momentum.
Sudan’s recent form across all competitions displays a mixed pattern: L-W-L-L-D-W.
Meanwhile, Togo’s recent run in all competitions exhibits: D-L-D-W-W-W.
Team news
Sudan’s manager Ezzaki Badou has rotated the starting lineup significantly during the AFCON qualifiers.
Goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa and Abuaagla Abdalla are the only consistent starters, while Muhamed Kome, Waleed Al Shoala, and Mohamed Abdelrahman have been among the goal scorers for Sudan.
On the other side, Togo is expected to set up with a 3-4-3 formation, with Loic Anthony Bessile, Djene Dakonam, and Alaixys Romao forming the defensive core.
Denkey’s goal-scoring prowess places him as the likely focal point in attack, alongside Ihlas Bebou and Euloge Placca.
