Sudan Shock Equatorial Guinea To Revive AFCON Hopes

Sudan Shock Equatorial Guinea To Revive AFCON Hopes

By Niyi Busari 

Sudan reignited their TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on a cold evening at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, throwing Group E wide open and keeping their knockout-stage ambitions firmly alive, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In a contest decided by the finest of margins, the decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute. A dangerous Sudanese delivery into the penalty area caused confusion in the Equatorial Guinea defence, with centre-back Saúl Coco inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under pressure. It proved to be the only goal of a tense encounter and one that carried enormous significance.

Having suffered a heavy defeat in their opening fixture, Sudan entered the match knowing anything less than a positive result would leave them on the brink of elimination. Coach James Kwesi Appiah’s side responded with discipline and resilience, producing a defensively assured performance against a technically gifted Equatorial Guinea team.

Goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid was outstanding, marshalling his defence and making crucial interventions as Sudan absorbed sustained pressure for long spells. The Falcons of Jediane remained compact and organised, limiting clear-cut chances before capitalising on a rare moment of disorder in the opposition box.

The victory dramatically reshapes the complexion of Group E, lifting Sudan level on points with the group leaders and setting up a decisive final-round encounter. Their concluding group match against Burkina Faso on New Year’s Eve now becomes a straight shoot-out, with qualification for the Round of 16 firmly within reach.

Beyond its sporting importance, the win carried deep emotional weight. It marked Sudan’s first AFCON finals victory since 2012 and provided a moment of collective pride for a nation enduring significant hardship at home. For many supporters watching from afar, the result symbolised resilience and unity.

If Sudan can reproduce the same defensive solidity and composure in their final group match, a historic progression to the knockout stages remains a realistic objective.

Post-Match Reactions

Mohamed Mamoun Eisa (Sudan), TotalEnergies Man of the Match:

“It’s a very good thing that we picked up all three points against Equatorial Guinea. We feel great after this win and we’re looking to achieve the best possible results going forward. The players fought for the full 90 minutes to secure the victory.”

Juan Micha (Head Coach, Equatorial Guinea):

“We played to win and it was a difficult match. We created chances but did not take them. When that happens and you concede, this is football. We accept the result and congratulate Sudan, who played well.”

James Kwesi Appiah (Head Coach, Sudan):

“I’m happy with the win, but our ambition is bigger than just one victory. We are not here just to participate. Our objective is to progress and go as far as possible, and this result was very important for that.”