When the draw for Group E of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was announced, few would have predicted that Equatorial Guinea and Sudan would be fighting for tournament survival after just one match apiece. Yet, as the teams took to the pitch at a packed Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on December 28, both found themselves desperate for points after opening-day defeats—Equatorial Guinea to Burkina Faso, and Sudan to Algeria. The stakes couldn’t have been higher, and the tension in the Moroccan air was palpable from the opening whistle.
Historically, Equatorial Guinea had every reason to be confident. The Nzalang Nacional boasted a perfect record against Sudan, having won both previous meetings: a tight 1-0 victory in Bata in 2018 and a resounding 4-1 triumph away in Sudan the following year. But as every football fan knows, the Africa Cup of Nations is a tournament that loves to rip up the script. Would history repeat itself, or was Sudan ready to turn the page?
Fans barely had time to settle in before the drama began. Equatorial Guinea, under the guidance of coach Juan Micha, started brightly. With a midfield trio anchored by José Machín, Pedro Obiang, and the experienced Omar Mascarell, the Nzalang Nacional controlled early possession, pressing forward with intent. By the 13th minute, Machín had already tested Sudan’s goalkeeper with a rebound shot, while Obiang narrowly missed a gilt-edged chance from close range. The opening exchanges suggested Equatorial Guinea were determined to seize the initiative, boasting a commanding 61% possession by the 43rd minute. Yet, for all their dominance, clear-cut chances remained elusive.
Sudan, led by coach James Kwesi Appiah, had come prepared for a battle. The Bright Stars, featuring a dynamic front line of Mo Eisa, Bakhit, and Abdelrahman, absorbed early pressure and looked to strike on the break. Their defensive discipline was impressive, and as the half wore on, they began to carve out moments of their own—most notably through quick transitions and set pieces that forced Equatorial Guinea’s backline, marshaled by Esteban Ivan Edu and Carlos Akapo, into some anxious clearances.
The physicality of the contest soon became apparent. Early injuries threatened to disrupt both sides’ rhythm: Santiago Eneme was forced off for Equatorial Guinea in the 22nd minute, replaced by Josete Miranda, while Sudan’s Monged El Neel required treatment but managed to continue. Fouls and yellow cards started to pile up, with Sudan’s Walieldin Khidir going into the book for a robust challenge on Iban Salvador. The referee, Samuel Uwikunda, added a whopping ten minutes of stoppage time to the first half due to the string of interruptions, but neither side could find the breakthrough. As the halftime whistle blew, the scoreboard remained blank: 0-0.
“It’s been a very tight match with plenty of physical contact,” observed one commentator, echoing the mood in the stands. Both teams knew the second half would demand even more grit and guile if they were to keep their tournament hopes alive.
The restart saw Equatorial Guinea continue to press, with substitutions made to inject fresh energy—José Nabil replaced Iban Salvador at halftime, and later, Pablo Ganet and Luis Asué came on for Machín and Obiang. The Nzalang Nacional pushed numbers forward, probing the Sudanese defense with wave after wave of attack. Pedro Obiang came closest, firing a shot on target that was heroically cleared off the line by Sudan’s defenders in the 58th minute. For all their attacking commitment, however, Equatorial Guinea’s finishing let them down. Incredibly, they would end the match with 13 shots—none of which were on target.
Sudan, meanwhile, showed remarkable resilience. Appiah’s men grew in confidence as the minutes ticked by, sensing that an opportunity might yet present itself. Mohamed Eisa forced a save from Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper Jesús Owono with a speculative effort from distance, while the Sudanese midfield began to assert more control. Substitutions brought fresh legs into the fray: John Robia and Yasir Mozamil entered at the 72nd minute, followed by Altayeb Abaker and Awad Zayed later on, as Sudan sought to maintain both defensive solidity and a threat on the counter.
Then, in the 74th minute, the match turned on its head. Against the run of play, Sudan won a set piece deep in Equatorial Guinea territory. The delivery into the box was dangerous, but what followed stunned the stadium. In a desperate attempt to clear the ball, Equatorial Guinea center-back Saúl Coco inadvertently turned it into his own net, with goalkeeper Owono unable to react in time. The own goal handed Sudan a priceless 1-0 lead—a cruel blow for the Nzalang Nacional, who had looked the more likely to score.
The final stages saw Equatorial Guinea throw everything forward in search of an equalizer. Coach Micha introduced Emilio Nsue for Loren Zúñiga in the 77th minute, hoping the veteran striker could spark a late rescue. Sudan, however, stood firm, defending deep and smartly managing the clock. As the minutes ebbed away, the frustration among Equatorial Guinea’s players and fans grew palpable. The referee’s final whistle confirmed the shock: Sudan had secured a dramatic 1-0 victory, courtesy of Coco’s unfortunate own goal.
For Sudan, it was a night to remember. The win not only kept their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds alive but also marked their first-ever triumph over Equatorial Guinea in international competition. “The visitors take advantage of a set piece to open the scoring with an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saúl Coco, who was trying to clear the ball from his area, while the goalkeeper also failed to handle the ball properly,” noted one match report, capturing the decisive moment.
Equatorial Guinea, on the other hand, were left to rue a night when nothing seemed to go their way. Despite controlling possession and creating the better chances, their AFCON 2025-26 journey now hangs by the thinnest of threads. As one summary put it, “Poor outing for them as everything went against them—13 shots but none on target plus the own goal by Saul Coco.”
Sudan’s victory shakes up Group E, injecting fresh intrigue into the race for qualification. With one round of fixtures left, the Bright Stars can still dream of a place in the knockout stages. For Equatorial Guinea, it’s back to the drawing board, as they look to salvage pride in their final group game—and perhaps, just perhaps, hope for a miracle.