Sudan vs Ethiopia

Sudan made a dramatic statement this past year at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Now, Ethiopia looks to do the same as well, as two original teams from the inaugural AFCON in 1959 meet, with a berth at South Africa at stake.

A pioneer of African football, Ethiopia, along with Sudan, played its first AFCON game came in 1959. That game came in the final against Egypt and lost 4-0. Three years later, Ethiopia won AFCON 1962. But after reaching AFCON 1982, Ethiopia had regressed dramatically.

Ethiopia’s last real chance to qualify came was for AFCON 2004. On July 3, 2003, Ethiopia lost to Guinea 3-0 to finish third in its group for qualifying.  The country’s darkest day came on September 12, 2008. Despite having played four qualifiers, Ethiopia was officially disqualified from contention for AFCON 2010 (which doubled with that of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying).

Ethiopia would be reinstated a year later, but in qualifying for AFCON 2012, Ethiopia managed to finish third in their group, courtesy of their two victories against Madagascar. Yet, the country did show improvement, as the country had a hand in knocking out Nigeria from AFCON 2012. Most of the players on Ethiopia roster play domestically, with Oumed Oukri, Adame Girma and Shimeles Bekede as the star players. Following the qualifiers, Ethiopia focused on its first World Cup qualifiers, where the country eased past Somalia 5-0 after a scoreless first leg.

On the road to AFCON 2013, Ethiopia began at home with a scoreless draw against Benin. But after Benin scored first in the second leg, Adane Girma had scored the away goal against Benin to finish 1-1. That result has sent Ethiopia on the cusp of reaching its first AFCON since 1982.

Just like Ethiopia, Sudan had a proud history as a pioneer of African football, winning AFCON 1970. But Sudan went into the wilderness for roughly 30 years. 

But during AFCON 2008 qualifying, Sudan not only qualified, but the country defeated Tunisia 3-2 to finish atop its qualifying group. Faisal Agab scored five goals, which was tied for most with five players helped Sudan qualify for its first AFCON tournament since 1976. Despite being eliminated in the first round, Sudan returned to AFCON four years later, as the country finished as one of the two best runners-up. In AFCON 2012, Sudan broke long droughts to reach the quarterfinals. Mohammed Bashir scored Sudan’s first goals in an AFCON game in 36 years. Four days later, Mudather El Tahir scored twice against Burkina Faso to help Sudan win its first game in AFCON since 1970, the last time Sudan reached the AFCON knockout stages.

In between its two draws against Benin, Ethiopia continued its FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 1-1 draw at South Africa in Rustenburg. Days later, Ethiopia would win 2-0 against the Central African Republic to sit top of its group after two games. Said Saladin scored both goals in that victory, Ethiopia’s first World Cup qualifying win since April 9, 2000. After the quarterfinals, Sudan attempted to prove its recent run was no fluke. Sudan avenged its quarterfinal loss to the eventual champions Zambia by winning at home 2-0.  Despite a stunning scoreless draw against Lesotho, Sudan also sits atop its qualifying group after two games.

With this East African rivalry reacquainted, which country will continue its momentum toward AFCON 2013? The answer will come this October.