Kwasi Appiah’s Sudan stun Equatorial Guinea to ignite Group E at AFCON 2025

Kwasi Appiah’s Sudan kept their Africa Cup of Nations hopes alive with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on a cold 14-degree evening in Casablanca, a result that has thrown Group E wide open.

The contest was finely balanced for long spells, with Sudan showing resilience and discipline after their opening defeat. The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute amid chaos in the Equatorial Guinea penalty area.

A driven cross from the Sudanese right forced defender Saúl Coco into a hurried intervention, and his attempted clearance looped into his own net, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Sudan bench and supporters.

From that point, Sudan dug deep. Equatorial Guinea pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid delivered a commanding display, organising his defence and making crucial interventions as pressure mounted. The Sudanese back line held firm, repelling wave after wave of attacks to protect their slender lead.

The victory is Sudan’s first at the AFCON finals since 2012 and carries significance beyond the result. It lifts them level on points with the group leaders and sets up a decisive final clash against Burkina Faso on New Year’s Eve.

For Appiah and his players, it was a night of belief, unity and renewed hope, keeping their dream of reaching the knockout stage firmly alive.