Sudan 1-0 Ethiopia: The Walias Start AFCON 2027 Qualifying Campaign with Defeat

Ethiopia’s national football team, the Walias, started their Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifying campaign with a narrow defeat to Sudan. A late goal settled the tight contest in the Group J opening match played at the South national Stadium in Juba late Friday. The two east African sides went into half-time goalless and remained level for much of the second half as Ethiopia resisted Sudan’s attempts to find a breakthrough. Mohamed Eisa eventually scored in the 86th minute to give Sudan the decisive victory and secure all three points. In the other Group J match, Mozambique held Senegal to a 1-1 draw in Patrick Vieira’s first competitive match in charge of the Lions of Teranga. Nicolas Jackson gave Senegal the lead in the 32nd minute. But Mozambique responded just before half-time, with Geny Catamo equalising in added time to send the teams into the break level. Both sides were unable to find a winner after the interval, and the match ended with a draw. Sudan tops Group J with three points, while Ethiopia sits at the bottom. Senegal and Mozambique are joint seconds with a point each. Ethiopia’s next qualifier will be at home to Senegal on Tuesday, September 29, while Mozambique will host Sudan on the same day.