Sudan took a significant step towards the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) knockout stage after edging Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Casablanca on Sunday, thanks to a slice of late fortune.
The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute when Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco endured a nightmare touch.
The Torino centre-back was unfortunate to see the ball deflect off him and into his own net as teammate Luis Asue attempted to clear a dangerous Sudan free-kick.
It was only their second win in 18 matches across six AFCON appearances since that historic triumph, underlining just how important the result was for Kwesi Appiah’s side.
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Ranked 117th in the world, 20 places below Equatorial Guinea, Sudan now sit on three points from two Group E matches, while their opponents are left pointless after consecutive defeats.
They will face Burkina Faso in their final group game on Wednesday, knowing that a place in the knockout stages, something they have achieved just once since 1970, is within reach.