African Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea 0 – 1 Sudan FT
Sudan has scored one goal in its past five African Cup games, losing four and drawing one. [BackPage Pix]
Sudan won the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) for the first time since 2012 and took a major step towards the knockout stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as Saul Coco’s own goal in Casablanca sent Equatorial Guinea on a losing streak in Group E.
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The team, which played its qualifiers outside Sudan due to Sudan’s civil war, is now firmly in contention to qualify for the second round after the two teams emerged victorious in their first intense clash at the Africa Cup of Nations.
With Equatorial Guinea losing at the last minute to Burkina Faso, the National Thunder will need to upset Algeria in their third group game if they are to have any chance of reaching the last 16 in the 2023 finals.
Koko passed the ball to goalkeeper Jesus Owono with 16 minutes remaining, ensuring Sudan’s eight-game winless run at the Africa Cup – including a loss to Algeria four days earlier – ended in a wayward finish.
Sudan join Burkina Faso, who face Algeria on three points in their first-stage finale in Casablanca on Wednesday (16:00 GMT), and their leaders will meet in Rabat later on Sunday (17:30).
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Equatorial Guinea will face the African Foxes in Rabat at the same time on Wednesday, where they must win to have any chance of becoming one of the best third-placed teams.
Sudan’s major victory
Reaching the final is quite a feat for Sudan against the backdrop of the conflict that broke out in their homeland in April 2023, and the result gives a huge boost to their hopes of advancing to the next stage – their only time in the competition since 2012, when they took a point.
Equatorial Guinea took the lead in the 94th minute of their first defeat, but Juan Micha’s men spurned several good chances to regain the lead.
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Pedro Obiang was off-balance and fired a half-volley over the crossbar from close range after Jose Machin’s excellent finish inside the box.
With 10 minutes of first-half stoppage time, the game was occasionally attrition, including the introduction of Josete Miranda, who replaced the injured Marvin Anieboh after 25 minutes, as part of a clever free-kick move that fired over the crossbar.
Sudan’s Monjed Elner also appeared to have his eyesight checked after he went down uncontested in the penalty area, and the goalkeeper may have conceded the goal when half-time substitute Jose Nabil Ondo made an almost immediate impact.
The rising star of Nantes’ second team, who turned 20 last month, made a quick run in the penalty area before shooting narrowly wide before sending Real Madrid Castilla forward Loren Zuniga into the goal and hitting the side netting.
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Sudan profited from Juan Koko’s misfortune when Mohamed Essa’s shot was blocked on the line and they struck quickly, with a late shot from Equatorial Guinea substitute Emilio Nsuu – top five-goal scorer at the last Africa Cup of Nations – narrowly deflected.
Although their task becomes tougher, Equatorial Guinea will have a viable chance of advancing if they win the decider – Sudan will have a chance to advance even if they lose.
Mauritania lost its first two games in the 2023 finals but became one of four third-placed teams to reach the last 16 after winning its final group game, while eventual champions Ivory Coast also advanced with three points.
That total proved enough to qualify in the last edition of the final, with all three teams advancing in the 2019 final with three points, although Kenya missed out on goal difference.