Sudan boosted their chances of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages with a 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from defender Saul Coco.
The Falcons of Jediane claimed their first three points of the tournament through a cruel twist of fate for the Nzalang Nacional, whose campaign now teeters on the brink after suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time in their AFCON history. The result lifts Sudan to three points in Group E, level with Burkina Faso, whilst Equatorial Guinea remain rooted to the bottom with zero points from two matches.
The contest proved a cagey affair throughout, with both sides creating limited clear-cut opportunities during an opening period characterised by defensive solidity and midfield congestion. Equatorial Guinea, seeking to bounce back from their opening defeat to Burkina Faso, enjoyed slightly more possession but struggled to translate territorial advantage into meaningful goal-scoring chances.
The Nzalang Nacional’s best opportunity of the first half arrived in the 19th minute when Pedro Obiang found himself presented with a rebound from close range. However, the experienced midfielder’s effort floated narrowly over the crossbar, sparing Sudan goalkeeper Monged El Neel, who had been forced off the pitch moments earlier with an injury that caused a significant delay to proceedings.
The match was further disrupted by a series of injury stoppages, with Santiago Eneme unable to continue due to his knock and being replaced by fellow Equatoguinean Josete Miranda in the 28th minute. The stop-start nature of the first period prevented either side from establishing any sustained rhythm, with both teams heading into the interval goalless.
Sudan emerged from the break with greater intent, looking to exploit spaces behind the Equatorial Guinea defence. The Falcons’ direct approach tested the Nzalang Nacional backline, though goalkeeper Jesus Owono remained largely untroubled. Mohamed Eisa beat his marker in the 68th minute and let fly towards the middle of the goal, but Owono was well-positioned to make a comfortable save.
Equatorial Guinea introduced fresh attacking impetus at the start of the second half, with Jose Nabil proving a livewire down the flanks. The speedy attacker saw two powerful shots narrowly miss the target as the Nzalang Nacional increased their offensive output in search of the breakthrough.
The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute, though not in the manner either side would have anticipated. Sudan were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area, and as the delivery came into the Equatorial Guinea penalty area, confusion reigned. Torino centre-back Coco, who had been introduced as a substitute shortly before, attempted to clear the danger as his team-mate Luis Asue also challenged for the ball. In the ensuing scramble, the ball ricocheted off Coco and flew into his own net, leaving Owono helpless and handing Sudan an unlikely advantage.
The own goal represented a cruel blow for Coco, whose evening had barely begun before turning into a nightmare. For Sudan, however, the manner of the goal mattered little as they seized the initiative and looked to protect their slender lead.
Equatorial Guinea threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser, aware that defeat would leave their qualification hopes hanging by the slenderest of threads. Their desperation nearly brought reward in the 78th minute when Emilio Nsue, the tournament’s top scorer in 2023, picked up the ball in space and unleashed a shot that whistled inches wide of the left post.
As the minutes ticked away, the Nzalang Nacional’s attacks grew increasingly frantic. Nsue, so prolific in previous tournaments, fired wide from inside the box in the closing stages as Sudan’s defensive organisation held firm. The Falcons of Jediane absorbed the late pressure with admirable discipline, throwing bodies in the way of shots and clearing their lines when required.
The final whistle sparked contrasting emotions, with Sudan’s players celebrating a vital three points that keeps their knockout stage ambitions alive heading into their final group fixture against Burkina Faso on 31 December. For Equatorial Guinea, the defeat compounds the disappointment of their campaign and leaves them facing an uphill battle to progress.
The result marks Sudan’s first victory at AFCON 2025 following their heavy opening defeat to Algeria, offering hope that the 1970 African champions can rediscover the form that once made them a force on the continent. Coach Kwesi Appiah will take heart from his side’s defensive solidity and organisational discipline, qualities that will be essential in their crucial final group encounter.
For Equatorial Guinea coach Juan Micha, the challenge now is to lift his squad for their concluding match against Algeria.
The Nzalang Nacional must defeat the group leaders and hope other results fall favourably to stand any chance of progressing, either as runners-up or as one of the best third-placed teams. Their AFCON journey, which began with such promise, now requires a minor miracle to extend beyond the group stage.
