Sudan defeated by Burkina Faso while Algeria secures another victory in Cup of Nations
Sudan will now confront the 2022 title holders Senegal in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations, having suffered a 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso in their concluding group fixture on Wednesday, at the same time as Algeria triumphed 3-1 over Equatorial Guinea.
Lassina Traore netted an early goal to give Burkina Faso the lead at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, prior to Algozoli Nooh squandering a penalty for Sudan.
Arsene Kouassi, from the French Ligue 1 club Lorient, confirmed Burkina Faso's victory with a late goal.
Each side had previously secured progression to the knockout rounds from Group E, trailing Algeria. Burkina Faso merely required a draw or better to claim the runner-up position.
The 2013 finalists are set to travel to Marrakesh for their last-16 encounter against the top finisher from Group F, which wraps up later on Wednesday with the current holders Ivory Coast competing for first place alongside Cameroon and Mozambique.
This marked Sudan's second loss in three matches, yet their 1-0 success against Equatorial Guinea sufficed for them to qualify as one of the leading third-placed teams.
"Burkina possesses a strong squad. The majority of their players feature for premier European clubs, so naturally facing them presents a challenging encounter," remarked Sudan manager Kwesi Appiah.
Situated 117th in the global rankings, Sudan has managed only two wins in 19 outings over six participations in the Cup of Nations since their 1970 triumph.
This represents merely their second venture into the knockout phase since that era, and overcoming Sadio Mane's Senegal in Tangier on Saturday would constitute a remarkable upset.
Nevertheless, reaching this stage stands as a significant accomplishment for a nation gripped by conflict since clashes erupted between Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023.
"This outcome benefits all in Sudan and motivates the players to demonstrate their capability against a side like Senegal," Appiah continued.
"Senegal ranks as a major force in football, and we intend to deliver an impressive performance."
Shakhtar Donetsk's forward Traore nodded home from Stephane Aziz Ki's lofted pass in the 16th minute to commence the scoring for a Burkina Faso team that introduced seven alterations from their previous fixture.
100 percent record
Sudan earned a penalty in the middle of the opening period, much to the joy of their supporters who formed the bulk of the 10,084 attendees.
Burkina Faso's custodian Herve Koffi, hampered by an injury, awkwardly charged forward and felled Algozoli.
The Sudan forward rose but managed only to send the penalty astray to the left of the upright.
The hurt Koffi exited at the interval, though his successor Kilian Nikiema faced little pressure, and Kouassi advanced into the box to extend Burkina Faso's lead to 2-0 on 85 minutes.
In the meantime, Algeria finished the group phase undefeated as the two-time past champions comfortably overcame Equatorial Guinea in Rabat.
With Algeria assured of topping Group E and Equatorial Guinea out of contention, the match in Morocco's capital held no stakes.
Algeria boss Vladimir Petkovic rotated nine players in his lineup, ahead of a last-16 clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo the following Tuesday.
Even with the adjustments, Algeria dominated, netting three goals within a 14-minute spell in the first half.
Defender Zineddine Belaid powered in the first from a corner at the 19-minute mark, then Ibrahim Maza set up Fares Chaibi for the second.
The standout Maza, from Bayer Leverkusen, subsequently headed the third, as Emilio Nsue, the leading marksman from the prior AFCON, responded with a consolation for Equatorial Guinea.