Sudan made history at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco by becoming the first team to reach the knockout stage without scoring a single goal of their own.
The Falcons of Jediane advanced from Group E with three points, finishing third behind Algeria, who topped the group with nine points, and Burkina Faso, who secured six.
Sudan’s only win came in their second group match against Equatorial Guinea at Mohammed V Stadium.
The 1–0 victory was courtesy of an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saoul Koko in the 74th minute, marking the only goal that propelled Sudan into the Round of 16.
Across their other group matches, Sudan failed to score, relying entirely on that solitary own goal to secure progression.
Their unusual path to the knockout stage sets a record in AFCON history, as no previous team has qualified without netting a goal themselves.
Looking ahead, Sudan now faces the challenge of improving their attacking play as they prepare for the next round, aiming to turn this rare milestone into a platform for a deeper run in the tournament when they face Senegal in the Round of 16.
