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No winner in the group D game: Guinea-Bissau tried everything, and even missed a penalty, Sudan held on. A draw (0-0) which does not suit anyone.
After the shock of Group D of CAN-2022, which saw Nigeria‘s victory over Egypt (1-0), Sudan and Guinea-Bissau had the opportunity to join the Super Eagles at the top of the group, Tuesday January 11, in Garoua.
But despite a lot of goodwill, the Bissau-Guineans, dominating throughout the match, failed to gain the advantage over a courageous Sudanese team. A match connected to alternating current, between two playful teams, but with very few opportunities to bite into it.
Sterile domination of the Lycaons
The Lycaons [les Bissau-Guinéens] started the game on their own, with a strike from Mama Balde in the 4e minute, captured by the Sudanese doorman. Opposite, Abdelrahman tries to answer 5 minutes later, but he too came up against the goalkeeper.
The Bissau-Guinean domination remains sterile against the solid defense of the Nile Crocodiles, who are struggling to project themselves forward and proceed in reverse. Actions are struggling to go to the end, on both sides, with a lot of imprecision in the last gestures …
Then you have to wait for the 36e minute to see the center-shot of Piqueti, from the angle of the field, captured by the Sudanese goalkeeper. Then a Jefferson sprint on the right side, which passes to Baldé in front of the goal, but whose strike is blocked (40th).
The first Sudanese opportunity comes just before the break, a superb full-axis strike from Abdelrahman, which Gomis manages to push back.
On returning from the locker room, the match starts again on the same bases: two playing teams, which leave the spectator frustrated at not seeing the actions go to the end. The ball struggles to come out of the midfield.
Penalty missed!
The Lycaons are pressing, in vain. And the timid Sudanese attempts fail to worry Gomis.
The match seemed to be on the verge of tipping over when Guinea-Bissau obtained a penalty: Ambri left alone at goal, was mown at the entrance to the surface by the Sudanese goalkeeper.
But Pelé’s penalty, (badly) shot without momentum and level with the ground, was rejected by Achrine (81e)! Behind, Piqueti tries his luck, but finds the cross …
This failure remobilizes the Lycaons a little, who throw all their forces into the battle. But the Sudanese are holding on. Even Mendy’s head, alone in front of goal, at the very end of the match, was pushed back by Achrine. Author of a very good performance, the Sudanese goalkeeper is also sacred man of the match.
The two teams left it there, after a fairly pleasant match, but still frustrating. And a result which forces the two teams to create the feat against Nigeria and Egypt in the next matches to have a chance to qualify.
Relive the match with our liveblog
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