Senegal edge Ethiopia to revive 2027 AFCON campaign

Senegal strengthened their position in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group by winning in Ethiopia, although the performance offered little reassurance. Patrick Vieira’s Lions now sit second, behind Mozambique, after ending a difficult recent run with a narrow victory.

Senegal won 1-0 at the Bahir Dar Stadium on Tuesday. Mozambique lead the group after defeating Sudan 4-1, leaving Senegal to settle for second despite collecting the result they needed. The victory also follows a draw with Mozambique late last week.

The win was important for a side that had managed only one success in its previous seven matches, a 5-0 result against Iraq. Senegal were under pressure from an assertive Ethiopian team but kept a clean sheet and held on for the three points. Their display remained uneven, with the attacking performance failing to match the significance of the result.

The outcome gives the reigning African champions a stronger platform in the qualification race, but their latest showing leaves clear room for improvement. For now, Vieira’s team have recovered ground after the Mozambique draw and remain in pursuit of the group leaders.