AFCON: Sudan make history by reaching knockout stage without scoring a goal

AFCON: Sudan make history by reaching knockout stage without scoring a goal

Sudan made Africa Cup of Nations history by becoming the first team to qualify for the knockout stage without scoring a single goal at the tournament.

Sudan advanced from Group E of the 2025 AFCON with three points, finishing third behind group winners Algeria, who claimed maximum points, and second-placed Burkina Faso, who ended the group stage with six.

Read Also: AFCON 2025: Full List of Round of 16 fixtures, date, time and venue

The only victory came in their second group match against Equatorial Guinea at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. The encounter ended 1–0, but the decisive goal was not scored by a Sudanese player.

Instead, Equatorial Guinea defender Saoul Koko turned the ball into his own net in the 74th minute, handing Sudan the crucial three points.

Read Also: Gabon government suspends national team, bans Aubameyang over AFCON flop

Across the remainder of the group stage, Sudan failed to find the back of the net, with their progression secured entirely by that solitary own goal and the points it yielded.

Despite their attacking struggles, the team held firm defensively and did enough to advance as one of the best third-placed sides.

The feat places Sudan in the AFCON record books. While several teams in the tournament’s history have endured prolonged scoring droughts, none had previously progressed beyond the group stage without registering a goal of their own.

Sudan now turns their attention to the knockout fixture against Senegal on Saturday, where they will hope to book qualification for the quarter-finals.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date