Sudan head coach James Kwesi Appiah has declared that his side is targeting nothing less than the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, stressing that the Falcons of Jediane are not at the tournament simply to make up the numbers.

After opening their Group E campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Algeria, Sudan responded in impressive fashion with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, December 28, in Casablanca.

The decisive moment came when a dangerous Sudanese cross forced defender Saúl Coco into an attempted clearance, only for the ball to deflect into his own net, triggering jubilant celebrations among Sudan’s players and supporters. The goal secured Sudan’s first AFCON victory in over a decade.

Speaking after the match, Appiah praised his players’ commitment but made it clear that the team’s ambitions go far beyond a single win.

“When you take part in any tournament, the main ambition is to get out of the group stage and go as far as possible. We achieved what mattered most today, and we remain focused on reaching the furthest stage possible. We are not here just to participate,” he said.

“I am happy with the win, but our ambition is to win the title, not merely to record one victory. We have experienced players, and their performance was very strong,” the Ghanaian coach added.

Appiah also acknowledged the challenges his side faced during the match, while commending their resilience and quality.

“We faced some difficulties, but we always try to show quality in our matches to achieve victories. I thank everyone who supported us, especially the fans.”