Sudan advanced into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso on Monday handed it second place in Group B by the slimmest of margins.
Two goals by Mudather Tayeb ensured Sudan a first win in 42 years at the tournament to edge Angola on goal difference for the runner-up berth after it went down 2-0 to group winner Ivory Coast in Malabo.
Sudan will meet Zambia in the first quarter-final in Bata on Saturday.
It rode its luck to end a run of 11 games without victory at the finals, overcoming an early collision that cost it a key defender, a strong penalty appeal for its opponents and a disallowed effort by Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso substitute Issiaka Ouedraogo pulled a goal back with virtually the last touch of the match after he had missed two gilt-edged chances, the first early in the second half with just the goalkeeper to beat and the second late in the game when he actually went around the goalie but still hacked wide.
Tayeb scored against the run of play in the 33rd minute to give Sudan the lead.
With 10 minutes left he scored a second, taking advantage of comical goalkeeping from Daouda Diakite, who hesitated to clear a long ball, allowing Tayeb to steal the ball and score the easiest of goals.
Angola bows out after losing to Ivory Coast
Angola, needing a point to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, was eliminated on Monday after losing 2-0 in its final game to Ivory Coast, which had fielded a largely reserve team.
Emmanuel Eboue put the Ivorians ahead after 32 minutes and Wilfried Bony tapped in the second just after the hour, following a blunder by defender Dani Mussunguna, who headed the ball over his own goalkeeper, leaving him stranded.
Angola, which was twice close to pulling a goal back, finished level on four points in Group B with Sudan.
Ivory Coast had already qualified and topped the group with maximum points from three games, which it completed without conceding a goal.
