Sudan and Burkina Faso face a defining New Year’s Eve showdown in Casablanca, with both sides vying for the second automatic qualification spot in Group E behind leaders Algeria.
After a 3-0 opening defeat to Algeria, Sudan revived their tournament hopes with a gritty 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea. Burkina Faso sits level with them on three points, having beaten Equatorial Guinea 2-1 before falling narrowly to a Riyad Mahrez penalty against the Algerians.
With identical points totals, this final group game is effectively a “winner-takes-all” play-off for a guaranteed place in the Round of 16.
Match details: Time and Venue
The fixture brings Group E to a close at the historic Mohammed V Stadium, running simultaneously with Algeria’s match to maintain competitive integrity.
- Date: Wednesday, 31 December 2025
- Kick-off: 16:00 GMT (17:00 local time)
- Venue: Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
AFCON 2025: Schedule, results and standings of the Africa Cup of Nations
Where to watch the game globally
Fans can ring in the new year with this crucial African encounter through several major broadcasters:
- UK: Channel 4 (Free-to-air) and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
- USA & Canada: beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español; streaming via Fubo and Fanatiz.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (English/Portuguese) and Canal+ Afrique (French).
- North Africa & MENA: beIN SPORTS MENA.
- South Africa: SABC and the SABC+ app.
- Australia & NZ: beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Team news
Sudan head coach James Kwesi Appiah is expected to keep faith with the defensive unit that kept a vital clean sheet against Equatorial Guinea. The Nile Crocodiles rely heavily on the leadership of Mohamed Abdelrahman up front, while Abo Eisa has been the standout creative force in midfield. Sudan has no major new injury concerns, though the physical toll of their recent victory may lead to some late rotation in the wide areas.
Sudan’s celebration in full flight! 🇸🇩#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/kzcy2mDuEw
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 28, 2025
Burkina Faso, under Brama Traoré, will welcome back the stability of their defensive line but must find more clinical edge in front of goal. Edmond Tapsoba remains the bedrock of the defense, while the Stallions will look to Dango Ouattara and Bertrand Traoré to spark their attack. Forward Georgi Minoungou, who impressed as a substitute against Algeria, is pushing for a starting berth to provide more pace on the flank.
New Year’s Eve Decider
This fixture is steeped in high stakes, as both nations look to secure their path through the group of death:
- Stalling stallions: Burkina Faso have been remarkably consistent, having progressed from the group stage in their last three AFCON appearances. However, they have struggled against lower-ranked opposition in final group games recently.
- Sudan’s resurgence: After a decade in the international wilderness, a win here would see Sudan reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2012.
- H2H edge: Historically, Burkina Faso has had the upper hand, but Sudan’s recent form under Kwesi Appiah—including a strong World Cup qualifying run—suggests the gap has narrowed significantly.
Coach Brama Traoré is treating the match as a cup final:
“The loss to Algeria was difficult, but our fate is in our own hands. We know Sudan is a transformed team under Appiah; they are disciplined and fight for every ball. We must be patient and use our experience to control the game. It’s New Year’s Eve, and we want to give the people of Burkina Faso a reason to celebrate.”
