Equatorial Guinea and Sudan both arrived at this Group E clash chasing their first points of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after opening-day defeats. Their meeting at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca proved tight and tense, with Sudan eventually edging a 1-0 victory thanks to ab own goal.
This was the first time the nations had faced one another at the AFCON finals. Their only previous encounters came during qualification for the 2019 tournament, when Equatorial Guinea won both matches.
The opening stages were competitive, with neither side able to find fluency. Equatorial Guinea created the first clear sight of goal in the 12th minute when Pedro Obiang struck from inside the area, but his effort flew over the bar. Sudan’s best moment of the half arrived deep into stoppage time when Mohamed Abdelrahman broke into space in the box and fired narrowly wide of the right post. Moments later, Obiang headed just over from close range as Equatorial Guinea threatened again before the interval.
The second half continued in similar fashion, with half-chances at both ends. Equatorial Guinea twice went close early on through José Nabil Ondo and José Machín, but Sudan goalkeeper Monged El Neel was equal to the danger.
With the match finely balanced, Sudan finally made the breakthrough in the 74th minute. A dangerous free-kick delivery from Mohamed Eisa caused confusion in the box and defender Saúl Coco inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, handing Sudan a priceless advantage.
Equatorial Guinea introduced veteran forward Emilio Nsue soon after in search of a response, and he almost made an instant impact with a low shot that fizzed past the post. Nsue then went agonisingly close again in added time, missing the target from close range after good work from Luís Asué.
Despite late pressure, Sudan stayed compact and saw out the closing minutes to seal a vital victory and their first points of the tournament.
Sudan next face Burkina Faso on December 31, while Equatorial Guinea meet Algeria as they look to recover from back-to-back group-stage defeats for the first time in their AFCON history.
