AFCON First: Sudan Qualifies for Knockouts Without Scoring a Goal

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, currently being held in Morocco, has witnessed an unprecedented event in the competition's history during the group stage.

According to data from 'Stats Foot,' a network specializing in football statistics, the Sudan national team has made a unique entry into the tournament's record books, becoming the first team to qualify for the next round without scoring any goals by its own players.

The 'Desert Hawks' successfully navigated the group stage, collecting three points to finish third in Group E. They trailed Algeria, who topped the group with a perfect record, and Burkina Faso, who secured second place with six points.

Sudan's sole victory in the tournament was a 1-0 win against Equatorial Guinea, in a match played during the second round of the group stage at the Mohammed V Stadium.

The only goal of that match was scored by Equatorial Guinea player Saul Coco, who mistakenly put the ball into his own net in the 74th minute. This own goal handed Sudan a historic victory that propelled them to the next round without any direct goals from their own players.