Equatorial Guinea and Sudan are set for a high-stakes showdown in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday at Stade Mohamed V.
Both sides, reeling from opening defeats, are desperate for redemption. A victory is vital to revive their qualification dreams as they linger in third and fourth place in Group E.
Having reached the knockout rounds in each of their four previous AFCON campaigns, Equatorial Guinea looked poised to seize victory in their group opener against Burkina Faso.
Nzalang Nacional, undeterred by being reduced to 10 men for much of the second half, surged ahead when Marvin Anieboh struck with just five minutes remaining.
But their lead quickly unraveled as Georgi Minoungou and Edmond Tapsoba struck in stoppage time, flipping the contest in dramatic fashion.
Despite witnessing his team’s late collapse, Juan Micha kept an optimistic tone after the match. Still, he knows a bold response is essential against Sudan.
With two convincing victories over Sudan in their recent meetings, outscoring them 5-1, Equatorial Guinea enters Sunday’s must-win clash in Casablanca buoyed by history.
The Central Africans lit up the group stage with nine goals at the last Nations Cup. Now, they aim to unleash their firepower against a Sudan side ranked 20 spots below them by FIFA.
Since lifting their only continental trophy in 1970, Sudan have reached just five AFCON tournaments, with four ending in early exits and only a 2012 quarter-final run breaking the pattern.
Barely three weeks after a frustrating Arab Cup campaign, James Kwesi Appiah’s squad faced Algeria in their Group E opener, suffering a 3-0 setback at Stade Prince Moulay Hassan and leaving themselves with a mountain to climb.
Riyad Mahrez led the onslaught with goals in both halves, although Salaheldin Adil’s dismissal six minutes before half-time did not help matters.
After their latest defeat, the Falcons of Jediane find themselves mired in a three-game losing streak, winless in four matches, having scored just one goal and conceded eight.
With their toughest test now behind them, Sudan will see Sunday’s clash with Equatorial Guinea as a make-or-break moment for their survival hopes ahead of their final group game against Burkina Faso.
