Sudan will take on 2022 title holders Senegal in the Afcon last 16 after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Burkina Faso in their final Group E match on Wednesday, while Algeria recorded a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea in the other game played simultaneously.
Burkina Faso went in front early at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca through Lassina Traore, before Sudan missed a chance to draw level when Algozoli Nooh fired a penalty wide.
Late in the match, Arsene Kouassi of French Ligue 1 club Lorient wrapped up the victory for Burkina Faso.
Both sides had already secured qualification for the knockout rounds behind Algeria in Group E, with Burkina Faso only needing a draw to finish second.
The 2013 runners-up will now travel to Marrakesh to face the winners of Group F in the last 16. That group will be decided later on Wednesday, with defending champions Ivory Coast battling Cameroon and Mozambique for first place.
For Sudan, the loss was their second in three matches, but a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea proved enough to see them through as one of the best third-placed teams.
Currently ranked 117th globally, Sudan have managed just two wins in 19 matches over six Afcon appearances since winning the competition in 1970.
This marks only their second time reaching the knockout phase since that triumph, and it would be a major upset if they were to overcome Sadio Mane’s Senegal in Tangier on Saturday.
Still, progressing this far represents a significant success for a nation that has been devastated by conflict since clashes erupted between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023.
Traore opened the scoring in the 16th minute, nodding home Stephane Aziz Ki’s lofted cross for a Burkina Faso team that made seven changes from their previous outing.
– 100 percent record –
Sudan were handed a penalty midway through the first half, much to the excitement of their supporters, who formed the bulk of the 10,084 spectators.
Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi, carrying an injury, rushed out awkwardly and brought down Algozoli in the box.
Although Algozoli stepped up himself, he dragged the spot-kick wide of the left post.
Koffi was replaced at the break, but stand-in keeper Kilian Nikiema was seldom tested, and Kouassi broke into the box to score Burkina Faso’s second goal in the 85th minute.
Elsewhere, Algeria finished the group stage with a flawless record as the two-time champions comfortably beat Equatorial Guinea in Rabat.
With Algeria already confirmed as Group E winners and Equatorial Guinea out of contention, there was little at stake in the match.
Coach Vladimir Petkovic rotated heavily, making nine changes ahead of a last-16 clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo next Tuesday.
Despite the reshuffle, Algeria dominated, netting three goals in a 14-minute spell before half-time.
Zineddine Belaid headed in from a corner in the 19th minute to open the scoring, Ibrahim Maza then set up Fares Chaibi to double the lead, and Maza himself headed in a third.
Equatorial Guinea pulled one back through Emilio Nsue, the leading scorer at the previous Afcon, but Algeria were already well clear.