Goalkeeper Ali Abou Achrine was Sudan’s hero as he saved a late penalty to keep his team in a 0-0 draw with Guinea Bissau in Garoua on Tuesday.
It was a scoreline that capped an unhappy start to the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals for both countries, who are the underdogs in Group D that includes African football powerhouse Nigeria and Egypt.
When Guinea Bissau were awarded the penalty, it afforded them a chance for all three points but Pele’s weak kick was easily pushed away by Achrine, who then watched as Piqueti’s follow-up cannoned off the crossbar and stayed out of the goal.
With around eight minutes left in a lacklustre fight between two of the tournament’s lesser stars, the goalkeeper went from villain to hero after bringing down Steve Ambri to give away the penalty kick.
Sudan hung on for a share of the spoils in the Group D match, especially making sure to clear Guinea Bissau attacker Frederic Mendy’s thunderous drive off the line.
Like Nigeria, the Sudanese Football Association had made a major change to their team just weeks before the event after losing all three of their group games at the Arab Cup last month.
Prior to the competition, they fired French coach Hubert Velud and benched many of their regulars.
In a double header in Garoua on Saturday, Guinea Bissau will face Egypt, while Sudan will face Nigeria. Earlier, Kelechi Iheanacho scored the lone winning goal as Nigeria defeated Egypt, the seven-time champions to take the lead of the Group.
