Preview: Sudan Faces Equatorial Guinea in AFCON World Cup Qualifier

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (Interstat) — Sudan seeks its first victory of the Africa Cup of Nations World Cup qualifying campaign Sunday when it visits Equatorial Guinea.

The match at Estadio de Malabo kicks off at 3 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Dec. 28, 2025.

Sudan, the visiting side, sits at the bottom of its group with one point from four matches. Its most recent result was a 1-0 away loss to DR Congo on Oct. 14. The team has failed to score in its last three qualifiers, including a 0-0 draw with Mauritania on Oct. 10 and losses to Togo (1-0) and Senegal (2-0) in September.

Equatorial Guinea, hosting, looks to rebound from a late defeat. It fell 2-1 to Burkina Faso on Wednesday in a match played in Morocco. Its other group result this cycle was a 1-1 home draw with Liberia on Oct. 13.

Despite recent form, a statistical projection adds intrigue to the fixture. Interstat’s game simulator forecasts a high-scoring affair, predicting a 3-2 victory for Sudan.

The match is a crucial opportunity for both sides to improve their positioning. For Sudan, it represents a chance to ignite a stalled campaign. For Equatorial Guinea, it is a must-win at home before a quick turnaround to face group leader Algeria on Dec. 31.

The head-to-head history between the nations in competitive fixtures is limited, adding an element of unpredictability to the contest. Weather conditions in Malabo are expected to be hot and humid with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Sunday’s referee assignment will be announced by the Confederation of African Football on matchday.