Equatorial Guinea and Sudan are set to clash in a crucial Group E match at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, both teams eager to secure their first points after suffering defeats in their opening matches. The game is scheduled to take place at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on December 28, with kick-off at 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT).
This matchup marks the first encounter between Equatorial Guinea and Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Their only previous interactions occurred during the qualification for the 2019 AFCON, where Equatorial Guinea emerged victorious in both encounters. The first match, held on September 8, 2018, ended with a 1-0 win for Equatorial Guinea, thanks to a goal from Emilio Nsue. The return fixture on March 22, 2019, saw Equatorial Guinea claim a decisive 4-1 victory in Sudan, featuring a brace from Nsue.
Despite their successes in the qualifiers, neither team advanced to the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt, finishing behind Senegal and Madagascar.
Looking at their respective performances in the tournament thus far, Equatorial Guinea started with a 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso, where they led early with a goal from Marvin Anieboh—his first international goal—before conceding twice deep into stoppage time. This defeat marked a challenging moment as it ended a five-game unbeaten streak in group stage matches and highlighted their vulnerability after scoring first.
On the other hand, Sudan is grappling with their own struggles. Their defeat to Algeria has extended a winless streak at the AFCON to eight matches, comprising four draws and four losses. The team has struggled offensively, scoring in just one of their last five games and failing to find the net in their opening match for the fourth consecutive finals. Coach Kwesi Appiah faces mounting pressure as his teams have historically won or drawn their second group games.
Both teams face a pivotal moment in their campaigns, as a loss could deepen their challenges. However, each has an opportunity to turn their fortunes around. Looking ahead, Equatorial Guinea boasts a strong record in second group matches, previously remaining unbeaten in such encounters, while Sudan may hope to capitalize on a need for redemption and spark a resurgence.
As the countdown to this critical fixture begins, fans from both nations will be hoping for a thrilling encounter that could set the stage for the remainder of the tournament.