Bahrain players celebrate a goal against Sudan: PIC: Bahrain Football Association
Doha, Qatar: Bahrain wrapped up their FIFA Arab Cup 2025 campaign on a high, defeating Sudan 3-1 in their final Group D match at Education City Stadium yesterday.
Mahdi Abdoul Jabbar handed Bahrain the lead in the 37th minute. Sudan suffered another blow when Mohamed Saeed Ahmed was sent off in the 58th minute.
Sudan fought back with Yasir Mozamil equalising in the 72nd minute, but Mohamed Alromaihi converted a penalty in the 79th before Mahdi Alhumaidan sealed the 3-1 victory with a late strike in the 89th minute.
Dragan Talajic’s Bahrain ended their campaign in third place on three points.
“I am proud of the victory and the performance we delivered against Sudan, and I thank the players for their efforts. I also thank Qatar for the wonderful organisation,” said Talajic.
Bahrain were on the front foot from the start with Abdoul Jabbar forcing Mohamed Alnour into a reflex save before Ammar Tayfour’s back pass was flapped by the Sudan goalkeeper but Ali Madan sent his shot wide.
A lucky deflection put Abdulla Alkhalasi on the path towards Sudan’s goalmouth before the defender squared to Abdoul Jabbar for a simple tap-in to give Bahrain the lead. From a similar move two minutes later, Madan picked out Abdoul Jabbar in the centre of the box but this time, Alnour came up with a big block to keep the margins tight at the break.
Sudan improved after the break with Tayfour testing Mohamed Elgharably with a thunderous strike from distance before the African side went down to 10 men in the 56th minute when Ahmed was shown the red card for violently lashing out at Abdoul Jabbar.
Despite playing win a man less, Sudan drew level after Mozamil scored a goal. Parity, however, was for a mere seven minutes as Bahrain regained the lead through Alromaihi’s penalty with Alhumaidan then adding the third to wrap up victory.
“We were affected by being a man down against Bahrain, and we must now focus on the Africa Cup of Nations and prepare well for it,” Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah said after the defeat.
