Sudan head into their final Africa Cup of Nations group match against Burkina Faso with qualification for the quarter-finals a very real possibility.
Sudan hope to secure quarter-final spot
Sudan head into their final Africa Cup of Nations group match against Burkina Faso with qualification for the quarter-finals a very real possibility.
The Falcons of Jediane had failed to score in the tournament for 36 years but a come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Angola has given Mohamed Abdalla's side hope of progressing past the group stages.
Sudan narrowly lost 1-0 to the Ivory Coast in their opening tie, but with Burkina Faso having already been eliminated after two defeats, 2-1 to Angola and 2-0 to the Elephants, a win on Monday may be good enough to see them through.
They do, however, need the Ivorians to beat Angola in the other Group B encounter.
Motivation is high in the Sudanese camp following their draw with Angola.
After the match, Abdalla told AFP: "We started by attacking because to continue in this competition we had to win.
"We let in the first goal on a major defensive blunder, the second on a penalty but my players aren't sufficiently experienced.
"I'm happy that twice we were able to equalise. This game gives us huge motivation for our next one."
Burkina Faso, meanwhile, go into this tie with just pride to play for but amid uncertainty over the future of coach Paulo Duarte, who threatened to quit his post after his perceived shortcomings of the country's football federation.
The Federation Burkinabe de Foot-Ball failed to register three nationalised players in time which Duarte felt would have improved his side's chances in the competition immeasurably.
