You'd have forgiven Angola if they considered their match against Sudan to have been over within the first five minutes, when Manucho Barros took advantage of an awful error by Sudan centre half Najem Abdullah, raced into the penalty area, and then slid the ball past Akram El Hadi to make it 1-0. After all, Sudan hadn't scored in the Africa Cup of Nations since 1976.
However, this isn't your parents' Sudan team, and they were playing some interesting football with very tidy one-touch passing moves. For a while, it didn't look as if it was actually going to go anywhere - it was like watching a more likeable African Arsenal side - but eventually they managed to work the ball to the right wing for Eltaib Mudather and the subsequent cross was met with a fine header by Mohamed Bashir to make it 1-1.
Angola took the lead again after halftime when Hamid Nazar brought down Djalma in the penalty area, allowing Manucho to make it two with a well-struck spot kick, but they couldn't hold their lead, and Bashir stole in to take advantage of a lapse in judgement in the heart of the Angola defence, lashing a loose ball into the roof of the net to make things 2-2.
The game remained open right until the death, with both teams creating plenty of chances, but neither could find the net. Sudan were perhaps unfortunate not to snatch all three points - Angolan goalkeeper Carlos did well (even if his style was somewhat unorthodox) to prevent Bashir from grabbing another goal - but one suspects that they're more than happy with the point and an impressive display.
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