Sport
Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Update: Sudan in quarterfinals
Former African powerhouse Sudan, after decades in the international wilderness, are back in the big time after progressing to the Africa Cup of Nations last eight on Monday.
Sudan, one of the four founding members of the Confederation of African Football, last made it into the knockout stages way back in 1970 – going on to claim the title.
A first appearance in 32 years in 2008 ended in a first round knockout, and that appeared on the cards again as they went into their closing Group B game in third place behind Angola and Ivory Coast.
But a 2-1 defeat of already eliminated Burkina Faso combined with the Ivorians’ 2-0 win over Angola in simultaneous matches lifted them above the 2010 hosts into the Group B runner-up spot.
The reward for coach Mohammed ‘Mazda’ Abdullah’s gallant heroes was a quarter-final against Zambia in Bata on Saturday.
Ivory Coast, who fielded a reserve XI in Malabo, face co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, the same day.
The other teams already through are Gabon and Tunisia with the remaining two quarter-final participants to come from Group D.
