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Join on Telegram Rabat – The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco witnessed a historic and unusual moment. Sudan became the first team in the tournament’s history to reach the knockout stage without scoring a single goal themselves.
Sudan advanced from Group E with three points, finishing third behind Algeria, who topped the group with maximum points, and Burkina Faso, who came second with six.
The team’s only victory came in their second group match against Equatorial Guinea at Mohammed V Stadium.
The game ended 1–0, but the winning goal was not scored by a Sudanese player. Instead, Equatorial Guinea’s defender Saoul Koko accidentally put the ball into his own net in the 74th minute. That own-goal gave Sudan the three points they needed to progress.
Across the rest of the group stage, Sudan failed to find the net. Their qualification was secured entirely thanks to that single own goal and the points it delivered. Despite not scoring, the team managed to hold on and make history by advancing to the next round in such a rare way.
This achievement places Sudan in the record books of the Africa Cup of Nations. While other teams have struggled with scoring droughts in past tournaments, none had ever managed to qualify without registering a goal of their own.
Sudan now prepares for the knockout stage, hoping to improve their attacking record and prove they can compete beyond this unique milestone.
