Sudan register second win, Ethiopia, South Sudan fall

Sudan’s national football team, Falcons of Jediane registered their second win to improve their chances of qualifying for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Muhamed Alhaji Kome Hamidan netted the lone goal after 67 minutes to hand Sudan victory at the Al Hilal Stadium in Omdurman, Sudan.

After a tense first half with Gabon putting lots of pressure, Hamidan netted with a beautiful bicycle kick that the Gabon goalkeeper failed to stop.

A happy Sudan coach Ezzaki Badou said he was happy with the performance and the maximum points the team picked. “We lost by the same margin last week to the same team, but my players responded well today and won the match,” added the former Moroccan national goalkeeper.

The win sends Sudan second in Group I with 6 points, while Gabon still lead with 7 points. Mauritania are third placed with 4 points, while DR Congo are still bottom with 3 points.

In other matches played by teams from the CECAFA Zone South Sudan lost 1-0 to visiting Congo Brazzaville, while Ethiopia fell 2-3 to Guinea.

Gabriel Andrew Joseph Charpentier netted the lone goal for Congo Brazzaville after 90 minutes against South Sudan in a match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The win send Congo to second place with 6 points, while Mali to face Gambia later today have 9 points. Gambia and South Sudan have 3 points each.

At the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, the Ethiopian national team failed to tame the Guinea team led by Liverpool’s Naby Keita.

Keita put Guinea ahead after only 4 minutes, and Markneh Kenean Maleko leveled matters after 34 minutes. Moribu Kourouma restored Guinea’s lead after 42 minutes. After the interval Morgan Guilavogul scored Guinea’s third goal, but Jemma Kitika pulled one back for the hosts Ethiopia.

Guinea lead the Group with 9 points, while Egypt who face Malawi today are second with 6 points. Ethiopia and Malawi have 3 points each.

Action continues today with Tanzania hosting Uganda Cranes in a Group F match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dare es Salaam. In the same Group Algeria stopped Niger 1-0 last night to qualify for the 2023 AFCON. Tanzania are second in the Group with 4 points, while Niger have 2 points and bottom placed Uganda Cranes 1 point.