Sudan boosted their hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage with a 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, sealed by a late own goal from Saul Coco.
The decisive moment came in the 74th minute in Casablanca when the Torino centre-back inadvertently turned the ball into his own net as teammate Luis Asue attempted to clear a Sudan free-kick.
AFCON champions in 1970, Sudan have struggled for success since, and this was only their second win in 18 matches across six tournament appearances since that triumph. Ranked 117th in the world, they sit well below Equatorial Guinea, who are 97th in the FIFA standings.
The result leaves Kwesi Appiah’s side on three points from two Group E matches, while Equatorial Guinea have now lost both of their games.
Sudan’s participation in the tournament comes against the backdrop of ongoing conflict at home, where fighting erupted in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
They will face Burkina Faso in their final group fixture on Wednesday, aiming to reach the AFCON knockout stages for only the second time since their 1970 title, having last done so in 2012, when they exited at the quarter-final stage against eventual champions Zambia.
AFP
