In the tense, high-stakes atmosphere of the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, a solitary moment of cruel fortune has dramatically reshaped the narrative of Group E in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. A 74th-minute own goal from Equatorial Guinea’s Saúl Coco handed Sudan a priceless 1-0 victory, propelling the Falcons of Jediane back into contention for the knockout stages while leaving the Nzalang Nacional on the brink of a premature tournament exit.
The match, played under the weight of near-elimination for both sides after opening defeats, was a tense, tactical affair defined more by psychological pressure than free-flowing football. Coming into the contest, the stakes could not have been clearer.
Equatorial Guinea, still reeling from the heartbreak of their opening fixture where they conceded two goals deep into stoppage time to lose 2-1 to Burkina Faso despite playing with ten men, were desperate for a response. Sudan, meanwhile, arrived in Casablana after being comprehensively outplayed in a 3-0 loss to Algeria, a match further complicated by the first-half dismissal of Salaheldin Adil.
The preview for this clash labeled it an “early knockout” fixture, and for 74 minutes, the players contested it as such, with both teams visibly cautious of making the catastrophic error.
The statistical story of the game told one tale, but the result wrote another entirely. True to their recent tournament identity, Equatorial Guinea dominated possession, holding the ball for over 65% of the match. They created the greater volume of opportunities, registering 15 shot attempts to Sudan’s 13.
Yet, for all their control of the ball and territory, they consistently found their path blocked by a resolute and disciplined Sudanese defensive block. The Nzalang Nacional’s attacking efforts, often channeled through the experienced midfield duo of Omar Mascarell and Pedro Obiang, lacked the final incisive pass or clinical finish to break the deadlock.
Their veteran striker and captain, Emilio Nsue, the tournament’s top scorer just two years prior, was left on the bench for the entirety of the match, a decision by coach Juan Micha that will inevitably be scrutinized given his team’s desperate need for a goal.
Conversely, Sudan, under the guidance of the experienced Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah, executed a game plan built on patience, resilience, and seizing the moment. Appiah had spoken before the tournament of his team’s need to “fight, fight, and fight” and to play with “big hearts,” and those qualities were on full display.
After the early sending-off against Algeria disrupted their structure, maintaining discipline was paramount. They succeeded, conceding only two yellow cards while frustrating their more possession-oriented opponents. For large stretches, the Falcons of Jediane were content to absorb pressure, organise their defensive lines, and wait for a chance to counter or profit from a set-piece. Their perseverance was ultimately rewarded in the most fortuitous, yet decisive, manner.
The game’s lone goal arrived not from a moment of individual brilliance, but from a sudden twist of fate. In the 74th minute, under pressure from Sudan’s attack, Equatorial Guinea defender Saúl Coco, a key figure in their European-based defensive unit, turned the ball into his own net.
The own goal transformed the atmosphere on the pitch and the sidelines instantaneously. For Sudan, it was a release of immense pressure and a beacon of hope. For Equatorial Guinea, it was a devastating blow, a cruel echo of the late collapse they suffered just days earlier against Burkina Faso.
The final whistle confirmed Sudan’s first victory in the tournament, a result that carries profound significance. It lifts them to three points in Group E, instantly revitalizing their campaign and placing their destiny back in their own hands as they prepare for their final group match against Burkina Faso.
The win is a testament to the cultural resilience Appiah has tried to instill. In the face of immense challenges back home and their status as group underdogs, the team fulfilled their coach’s pre-tournament vow to “fight to raise the flag of Sudan”.
For Equatorial Guinea, the zero points from two matches present a stark and sobering reality. A nation that has consistently punched above its weight in recent AFCON history, reaching the quarter-finals in three of its last four appearances and famously thrashing hosts Ivory Coast 4-0 in the previous edition, now faces the humbling prospect of a first-round exit.
For Sudan, the 1-0 win is more than just three points; it is a symbolic resurgence, a step toward reclaiming a place of relevance in African football that they have not held since their championship triumph on home soil in 1970. It validates the project under Kwesi Appiah and offers a beleaguered nation a moment of pure sporting joy.